Kitale Chaos: 2 Police Officers Injured as Sifuna and Ruto Convoys Encounter Each Other
Two police officers got hurt and two government vehicles were trashed during a reported bust up in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County and all this amid a backdrop of tension between the convoys of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and President William Ruto.
The National Police Service has started poking around into the incident, issuing a stern warning that anyone who broke the law will be held to account.
It all kicked off following a pretty charged day in Kitale, where Sifuna and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya were in town for the burial of Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Lazarus Simiyu Opicho, when things started to go south in the town.
Police Launch Investigations Into Kitale Political Clashes
A statement from the National Police Service on Friday, 16th October , condemned the whole business, and expressed concern about public order and the rule of law.
The police said two officers had ended up injured and two government vehicles had taken a beating, with investigators looking into just what happened and who was responsible.
“From what we’ve got so far, it seems the individuals involved were having a go at undermining public order and the rule of law, which just put the public in a right old pickle,” the NPS said.
The police are working to figure out what went on and who’s behind the reported injuries and damage and said that anyone found to be up to no good will face the music.
They also made it clear that no one’s going to be let off the hook just because they’ve got political clout or a high social standing or because they happen to belong to a particular party.
Was There a Showdown Between Sifuna and Ruto in Trans Nzoia?
The police statement came after reports that rival political supporters had got into a scrap in Kitale, following Ruto’s visit to Trans Nzoia County.
People backing Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi faction were said to be among those involved in the tensions as were supporters of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
The whole thing got more attention after videos started popping up online showing Sifuna’s convoy and Ruto’s motorcade in Kitale.
From what the footage suggested, the two convoys just sort of bumped into each other as Ruto’s motorcade was leaving town. Some locals were even heard shouting “ one term” as the President’s convoy went by.
But the police statement didn’t go into any detail about which politicians were involved or just how the officers got hurt and the vehicles got damaged.
It’s still early days, but the police will try to figure out exactly what happened.
Police Launch Investigations Into Kitale Political Clashes
Later in the statement the NPS went on to say that a pretty thorough investigation is going to be carried out into the incident and that investigators would be working hard to establish just what happened.
The NPS also warned that people who are found to have broken the law will face the consequences and that no one is above the law.
The service said its team of investigators would be working through the night to get to the bottom of things and to bring anyone responsible to justice.
“ We will be getting to the bottom of this, and we will act accordingly . Anyone who thinks they can just get away with breaking the law is going to be sadly mistaken “
Tensions Erupt at Lazarus Opicho’s Burial
The political tensions in the air came to a head at the burial of Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Lazarus Simiyu Opicho – which just so happened to be attended by Sifuna and Natembeya.
Things took a turn for the worse at the ceremony, when a few choice words from one of the dignitaries attending got the security guys stepping in to calm things down.
Sifuna was actually one of the leaders who got cut off mid-sentence when they tried to address the mourners at the burial – clearly, this didnt sit well with him.
And to make matters worse, the burial incident just added to the day’s already pretty volatile mix of politics, with Sifuna and the Governor – along with Ruto – all heading off to Kitale, where a development tour was being held.
As a result, it was hardly a surprise that the whole thing – burial and subsequent showdown between political groups, would get a lot of attention.
Police Deploy Teargas as Tensions Escalate in Kitale
Later that evening in Kitale, Sifuna and Natembeya’s boys decided to hold a rally in the dead of night, with – you guessed it, the police being called in to sort things out.
According to reports the police had to get the teargas out as tensions were running high.
All this comes at a time when the country is basically on high alert regarding politics, with supporters of all the main parties turning out in force in towns and cities all over the country.
The NPS are now calling on all the politicians and their supporters to keep a level head and not do anything that could upset the applecart.
NPS Issues Warning to Political Leaders and Supporters
The National Police Service are reminding everyone that the law is the law, you cant just get around it because you’re a politician or have a big following.
At this stage – with the 2027 General Election looming on the horizon, there will be investigations into the reported violence and property damage, and anyone found liable will face the music.
The police are calling on the politicians to behave themselves and not let their supporters run amok, and to generally promote some more peaceful and constructive engagement with politics in the country.
We’ll have to wait and see what comes out of the Kitale investigation – its the only way we’ll know who was involved and if anyone will have to answer to the law.
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Kitale Chaos: 2 Police Officers Injured as Sifuna and Ruto Convoys Encounter Each Other
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