The incident occurred shortly after President Ruto invited the Kikuyu MP to address the charged crowd, only for a section of residents to break into loud chants that made it impossible for him to proceed.
The rally, held at the heart of Nakuru town, had drawn thousands of residents who had gathered to hear the President outline ongoing government development plans.
Calm quickly gave way to tension the moment Ichung’wah stepped forward, as the crowd erupted into sustained jeers and chants that drowned his opening remarks.
Efforts by the presidential security team and local leaders to restore order bore little fruit, forcing the Majority Leader to abandon his attempts to speak.
President Ruto, who watched the interruption from his seat, signaled for Ichung’wah to step back as the chants intensified.
The President then rose to address the crowd, appealing for calm and urging residents to maintain respect for all leaders present. His intervention helped ease the tension, though the murmurs continued intermittently.
Sources within the organising team indicated that the heckling appeared to stem from simmering local political grievances, with some residents expressing dissatisfaction over perceived neglect of pressing economic concerns.
However, neither the President nor Ichung’wah addressed the reasons behind the protest directly.
Despite the dramatic moment, the rally proceeded with President Ruto focusing his speech on government efforts to stabilize the economy, expand job opportunities for youth, and accelerate infrastructure projects in the region.
The unexpected heckling of one of the President’s closest allies highlighted the shifting political mood on the ground, signalling possible discontent that leaders may have to confront as the political season gains momentum.
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Politics