MP Koech: Early campaigns behind heckling in Ruto's addresses

In Koech's view, there is a stiff political competition that has been mushrooming since the August 2022 General Election and a few individuals have vowed not to practice restraint even in the presence of the Head of State.

In a Monday morning discussion on Citizen TV, he argued that crowds are always hired and are only mandated to cause havoc whenever a Governor or a county leader is handed the microphone during public rallies.

"It is individuals sometimes who are unpopular and when the president is coming they decide we must demonstrate to the president that we are still popular. So they ferry young people who are given instruction that if so and so is going to speak then make sure that I outshine him," he said.

"It is early campaigns by politicians. Our region is becoming extremely competitive that immediately you are elected people are starting to plan for the next general election."

Koech was referring to two incidents where crowds caused havoc forcing Ruto to call for tolerance.

On March 14, a crowd shouted down Kericho Governor Erick Mutai as he rose to address a crowd. Ruto condemned the incident calling on residents to instead utilize their power at the ballot during the next election to hold non-performing leaders accountable.

A similar incident occurred on March 16 as a youthful crowd heckled Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok. Ruto was again forced to intervene and call the unruly crowd to order.

The occurrences saw a vexed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday warning leaders from the region against the unruly interruptions during Ruto's rallies.

Gachagua said it was no longer acceptable for leaders from the region to engage in disrespectful exchanges in front of the President.

“This infighting in the President’s backyard is very shameful. The people of the Rift Valley must not take the Presidency for granted. If the President has come to your county, he must be totally respected,” said Gachagua.