Considering incidents of yelling on occasions that President William Ruto took part, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has given severe directives to top police personnel.
The events compelled CS Kindiki to call an early morning meeting of the County Commissioner Gabriel Kitiyo-led Kericho County Security and Intelligence Committee.
The CS gave the law enforcement agencies instructions to look into, detain, and punish those who are creating chaos at political parties during the proceedings.
He also requested that they look into and prosecute people who incite unrest at political gatherings.
“The security apparatus also has the responsibility of cracking in on occurrences of criminal behaviour in political meetings, concluding inspections, and arresting the organisers, financiers, and perpetrators of hooliganism in the county, irrespective of their political affiliation or social standing,” Kindiki said.
This follows after President Ruto ran into an antagonistic mob twice over the weekend while on a visit to the Rift Valley.
Residents of Kericho jeered Governor Erick Mutai during the first incident. In order to give the governor permission to address the assembly, President Ruto had to step in and plead for patience.
In the second incident, Ruto lost his composure as the people criticised Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok.
At a rally, the president urged people to maintain discipline and order while chastising the locals for jeering the county executive in front of him.
Then Ruto intervened, trying to quiet down the rowdy locals who were still heckling. He advised them to exercise patience and use their voting power in the next election to try to hold the unsatisfactory politicians responsible.
In addition, the two incidents compelled Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to issue a riot act to the Rift Valley leaders.