14 arrested over Raila attack in Ruto’s backyard, DP offers apology

At least fourteen people have so been arrested in connection with the stoning of Azimio One Kenya Coalition presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga’s helicopter in Soy Constituency, Uasin Gishu County on yesterday evening even as Deputy President William Ruto apologised to his political nemesis over the unfortunate incident.

Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Stephen Kihara the suspects will be arraigned on Monday, April 4 once investigations are concluded.

Meanwhile, addressing the media today morning, Ruto while offering apologies over hooliganism exhibited at his political hotbed condemned the incident terming it as unfortunate.

He vowed that his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party will hold to account any member found culpable of the violence.

The DP reaffirmed his commitment to working with authorities to ensure all the culprits involved are brought to book.

“Yesterday there was an incident in Uasin Gishu where some violence was meted on the party leader of our opposing party, Raila Odinga. I have instructed the party to work with the police so that we can get to the root of what happened yesterday in Eldoret,” he said.

“Even as we work as a party to ensure we have an election free of violence, I also take this opportunity to apologize to Raila Odinga for what happened to him yesterday, it was really unfortunate and I hope those who engaged in this exercise regret what they did.”

DP Ruto reiterated that his UDA party and Kenya Kwanza coalition beliefs were firmly centred on peaceful elections and uniting Kenyans ahead of the August polls.

He emphasized his efforts in ensuring that all the members in his faction lived up to this by stating that any party member who would be found to have orchestrated violence, would face the consequences and consequently their candidature nullified.

“Our UDA and all our Kenya Kwanza partners are believers in a peaceful progressive Kenya and are committed to a peaceful nomination exercise and a peaceful election in August 9 2022,” said the DP.

“We are going to take disciplinary action against anyone who may have been involved in the violence meted out at Raila Odinga. I have issued instruction to the party that if any candidate was involved in that exercise…we do take the position that any candidate who engages themselves in violence and especially violence with women will be disqualified.”

The country’s second-in-command urged the members in his camp and across the political divide to uphold peace so as to ensure that every presidential aspirant is given the opportunity to speak in every part of the country.

“Our contest is about ideas that will move Kenya into the future and every candidate must be given the opportunity the same way we want to be given that opportunity,” DP Ruto noted.

The incident at Uasin Gishu where the former Prime Minister had attended the burial ceremony of Mzee Jackson Kibor saw rowdy youth pelt stones at his convoy and chopper.

Uasin Gishu County Commissioner said seven police officers had been deployed to provide security when Raila arrived at Kabenes in Soy for the burial of prominent Uasin Gishu farmer Jackson Kibor.

A crowd of rowdy youth pelted his entourage with stones, damaging Raila Odinga’s helicopter air-shield in the melee.

No casualties were reported.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i on Friday night ordered that the perpetrators of the violence in Soy should be arrested and prosecuted.

A total of 14 people have so far been arrested in connection to the Friday attack that targeted ODM leader Raila Odinga’s helicopter and vehicles in his convoy in Uasin Gishu County.

The former premier and his allies had just attended the burial of the late ‘Men’s Conference chairman’ Mzee Jackson Kibor in Soy, when rowdy youth started pelting his chopper with stones.

Addressing the press in Eldoret on Saturday, Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Stephen Kihara said the suspects are currently helping police with investigations.

“We have moved around through the night and we were able to arrest 14 youth who participated in throwing stones yesterday,” he said.

With the help of the nabbed suspects, Kihara expressed confidence that the police will single out the organisers of the attack, which he labelled as regrettable and isolated.

“We’re conducting subsequent investigations and we will nab the person who likely organized the incident. Regardless of who was involved, he or she will face the law and this will be a lesson for persons preaching politically instigated violence,” he added.

While urging the youth to advocate for peace during this electioneering period, Kihara likewise reiterated that all politicians are constitutionally entitled to campaign in any part of the country without having to deal with threats or intimidation of any kind.

On his part, Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has warned that all those individuals who played a part in the assault against Raila will be held to account.

He said the act is ‘reprehensible and abhorrent act.’

“I call upon the National Police Service to investigate the matter and ensure that all culprits and their masterminds are made to swiftly and decisively face the consequences of their criminal actions,” Matiang’i said in a statement on Saturday

In a strongly-worded statement, Matiang’i charged that the incident is regrettable and a sad reminder of the ugly face of violent political intolerance that the country has worked hard to consign to the annals of ‘a painful political history’.