Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has announced a decisive crackdown on the rising trend of heckling at political gatherings across the country, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards disruptions.
“We have noticed with concern an increasing tendency of intolerance among political leaders. We are asking political leaders to conduct their business within the law and maintain peace within their political meetings. No person is allowed to disrupt public meetings, to use goons, to mete out violence and to harass members of the public. Politicians are allowed to differ on ideologies, programmes and policies because our Constitution allows multi-party democracy,” Kindiki stated.
Adding firm directives, Kindiki emphasized, “No politician of whatever stature is allowed to use violence, goons and criminals to harass, intimidate or incite the public against each other. I have left very firm and clear directives to the Trans Nzoia County Security Committee to be firm, ruthless and merciless on all people who sponsor, finance, encourage, support, aid and abet goons and political thugs who go to disrupt meetings organised by people of a different viewpoint.”
The Cabinet Secretary assured that the crackdown would be impartial, targeting both pro and anti-government factions equally.
“It doesn’t matter whether the organisers or sponsors are pro or anti-government. We will crush them equally. Nobody is above the law. They (politicians) are free to disagree with each other, they are free to have different opinions but they are not free to use criminals to harass, incite, intimidate and disrupt public meetings,” he affirmed.
Recent incidents, including disruptions at political rallies attended by President William Ruto in Kiambu, Thika, Bomet, and Kericho, have underscored the urgency of the government’s response.
MP Alice Ng’ang’a faced heckling during her speech in Kiambu, while Governor Hillary Barchok encountered resistance from the crowd in Bomet.
Similarly, Governor Eric Mutai was shouted down in Kericho, prompting allegations of sponsorship behind the disruptions.
