What began as a routine stop in President William Ruto’s ongoing tour of the Mt. Kenya region quickly descended into chaos on Thursday, after Ol Kalou residents openly rejected Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah during a public address.
The President, accompanied by a high-powered delegation of government officials and political allies, had arrived in Nyandarua to engage with locals and highlight ongoing development initiatives. The reception initially appeared positive, with residents gathering in large numbers to welcome the head of state and his team.
As is customary during such visits, the president allowed members of his entourage, including local leaders and Cabinet Secretaries, to address the crowd. However, tensions began to rise as speaker after speaker took to the podium, with sections of the crowd growing increasingly agitated and restless.
The situation escalated when Kikuyu MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah took the microphone. His address was immediately met with loud heckles and jeers from the crowd, many of whom waved their hands in protest, signaling strong disapproval of his presence.
Attempts by local leaders, including the area MP, to calm the crowd proved unsuccessful. The hostility intensified as Ichung’wah tried to appeal to the audience by outlining government development plans for the region. However, his remarks were drowned out by the noise, and the crowd’s resistance only grew stronger.
In response, Ichung’wah switched to Kikuyu in an attempt to reason with the agitated residents. Visibly frustrated, he told the crowd that he could not be intimidated, stating that he “cannot be bullied” and would not succumb to fear. His tone shifted from conciliatory to defensive, but the situation did not improve.
The Majority Leader was ultimately forced to cut short his remarks, speaking for less than a minute before handing the microphone back. The reaction stood in stark contrast to the warm receptions Ichung’wah typically receives in other regions.
President Ruto did not directly intervene during the incident and continued with the rest of the program. However, the event left a visible mark on the day’s proceedings, raising questions about internal political tensions and shifting sentiments on the ground in parts of the Mt. Kenya region.
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