50 Isiolo youth arrested after heckling President Ruto released with warning

The operation followed an incident in which a group of youths heckled President William Ruto during his visit to the town. This outburst reportedly angered the Head of State, according to some residents and activists.

The youth, who had been detained, appeared before Isiolo Senior Resident Magistrate Maureen Odhiambo on Monday afternoon. The courtroom was packed with family members, friends, lawyers, and human rights activists, all in solidarity with the arrested youths.

One by one, the accused youths pleaded guilty to the charges, and in turn, the magistrate ruled that they be discharged, advising them not to repeat the offense. Magistrate Odhiambo emphasized that the charges were minor, and under section 35, the offenders were pardoned without a fine.

The incident leading to the arrests has sparked concerns among locals, legal professionals, and human rights advocates. President Ruto’s visit to Isiolo County had been to launch development projects, but the situation took a turn when a group of youths heckled him during his address.

Hadija Abdi, a resident of Isiolo, described how some of her family members were caught in the operation while returning home after dinner.

"They were just trying to get a motorcycle ride when they were stopped and told to board a lorry. I believe it was the President's anger that triggered the operation," she said, adding that it was an overreaction. Abdi suggested that a meeting with Isiolo leaders and elders could have provided a more constructive resolution.

Diana Gatwiri, a paralegal in Isiolo, expressed concern that there was no prior announcement of a curfew or operation, leaving many unaware of the crackdown.

"The way they rounded people up was wrong. There was no warning, and people were simply detained for no clear reason," she explained.

Elders in Isiolo condemned the heckling and blamed rival political groups for inciting the incident. Omar Godana, a local elder, made a public appeal for the youth to be pardoned, saying,

"The noise of the frogs does not stop the cows from drinking water. We, as elders, are sorry for what happened and ask for forgiveness on behalf of our community."

In another related case, Shuaib Yusuf was charged with obstructing the presidential motorcade by halting his tuk-tuk along the Isiolo-Archers Post road.

He was released after paying a cash bail of 5,000 shillings.

The operation, which followed President Ruto’s visit, has raised questions about the handling of the situation and the treatment of those detained. Many in the community are calling for a more measured response to such incidents in the future.