Deputy President William Ruto’s office and the police are locked in a blame game over the chaos that was witnessed in Kondele area of Kisumu.
Ruto was forced to stop his address in the middle of a massive throng in Kondele after boisterous youngsters began throwing stones at him.
According to details from office of inspector General national police service, the DP and his team was warned to skip the Wednesday November 10th rally around and within Kondele over tensions as per the findings.
According to the press statement, there was tension within Kondele owing to alleged distribution of campaign logistical funds amongst local groups.
Apparently Ruto’s team gave money to groups to attend the rallies but the groups fell out with each other over distribution of the handouts.
Following the disagreement, the agitated youth engaged in unruly behavior of stone-throwing during DP Ruto’s rally.
Police in their statement said they warned Ruto to skip the rally in Kondele having gathered intelligence that there was tension in the area.
The intelligence gathered was aptly shared with Ruto’s team in recommendation to skip the affected area during the rally but they ignored police warning.
“Based on the intelligence gathered, there was tension within Kondele owing to the alleged distribution of campaign logistical funds amongst local groups. This intelligence was promptly shared by police with H.E the deputy president’s team with recommendation to skip the affected area during the tour,” read police statement in part.
However, Ruto’s office rubbished police statement, denying that the DP’s team dished out money to groups in Kisumu.
Ruto’s office blamed police for the violence saying that the DP’s security was downscaled ahead of his 3-day visit of Luo Nyanza.
Ruto’s security bubble comprises of elite presidential Escort Unit (PEU), a division under the Kenya Police Service, which is tasked with providing protection to the president, the DP and their families.
Ruto is also protected by regular police wherever he goes. Cumulatively, the strength of personnel allocated to the DP is 257 officers.
According to a document tabled by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i in parliament in September amid a row over the DP’s security, Ruto is the most guarded holder of the office in post-Independence Kenya.
“Currently, 121 officers from the Administration Police and Prisons Services are providing security at the DP’s various residences. In addition to the 74 Presidential Escort personnel, six officers from the DCI and five drivers from the GSU are deployed,” Matiang’i told MPs.
Related: Itumbi Destroys Ruto’s Vehicles In Kericho To Profile Luos In Kisumu
