According to Belgut Member of Parliament Nelson Koech, conflicts over supremacy in the Rift Valley are the reason behind the increasingly intense heckling of President William Ruto by the crowd during his public speeches.

According to Koech, there has been intense political rivalry since the August 2022 general election, and some people have committed to acting without restraint—even when the head of state is present.

He made the case that crowds are always hired and are only required to cause mayhem when a county official or the governor takes the platform at public gatherings during a Monday morning debate on Citizen TV.

"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 alluded to two instances in which large crowds caused mayhem, prompting Ruto to demand tolerance.

The audience booed him down as Kericho Governor Erick Mutai stood to speak to a crowd on March 14. Ruto denounced the incident and urged the populace to hold ineffective leaders accountable by using their voting power in the upcoming election.

On March 16, a similar incident happened when a young crowd heckled Hillary Barchok, the governor of Bomet. Once more, Ruto was compelled to step in and give the rabble-rousing group an order.

Due to the events, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua expressed her frustration on Sunday and cautioned regional leaders against disrupting Ruto's rallies.


Gachagua declared that leaders from the area could no longer hold impolite conversations in front of the President.

This internal strife within the President's compound is genuinely disheartening. The residents of the Rift Valley mustn't undervalue the Presidency. Gachagua stated, "The President has to be treated with the utmost respect if he has visited your county.