DP Ruto forced to change route after entourage encounters rowdy youth

dennis kibet

January 24, 2017 10:46 AM

The youth blocked the main bus terminus in Bungoma town as they chanted opposition slogans and set alight Jubilee branded materials.

Deputy President William Ruto during a voter registration campaign in Webuye, Bungoma County, on January 23, 2017. He skipped a rally in Bungoma town after youths blocked him from entering the town centre.

The Deputy President William Ruto and his entourage had to change route after encountering irate youth during his voter registration sensitisation tour of the Western region.

Ruto, who was from a meeting in Mumias accompanied by Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, was forced to turn away at the main Mumias road, going through Mateka- Siritanyi before proceeding to Kanduyi constituency.

The police had a hard time restoring calm at the busy terminus as the youth demonstrated disrupting traffic flow.

“Hapa ni kunasa tu kura. Hatutaki kudanganywa pesa ya siku moja (Here we are only capturing votes for NASA. We do not want to be cheated with money for just one day)”, the youth chanted.

The youth demanded a share of the stolen public loot which they claimed the Jubilee Government had amassed before they could allow the deputy president and governor to address them.

Oppositions lacks agenda

While speaking later at a gathering in Kanduyi constituency, Ruto urged voters in the area to reject the opposition whom he said had nothing to offer Kenyans and instead back the Jubilee government.

"These people know nothing other than street protests and throwing stones. They have no agenda for Kenya," Ruto said.

The deputy president cited the government’s development projects including the commissioning of a number of roads in the area as proof of the government’s commitment towards positive change in the region.

The deputy president’s press team later termed the incident as inconsequential and that it was “stage-managed” ad a propaganda attempt meant to create the impression that Jubilee does not enjoy support in Bungoma County.

Similar incidents have played out in recent weeks where crowds in Narok and Baringo counties have turned hostile towards the deputy president as they lamented on unfilled election promises pledged by the Jubilee administration in their respective regions.

dennis kibet