President William Ruto was forced to cut short his visit to Isiolo County on Friday, February 7, 2025, after persistent heckling disrupted the groundbreaking ceremony for the County Aggregation and Industrial Park project.

Tension rose during the event when residents began chanting “Ruto must go” following an address by Isiolo MP Bonaya Mumina Gollo.

The situation prompted Governor Abdi Guyo to intervene, urging the crowd to show respect to the president.

“Leo ni siku ya rais wacha tupatie rais heshima. Tupatie rais heshima. Tuskize viongozi wote. Wale wamezoea kupanga, watu wapigie watu kelele, hamtarudi kupiga kelele Isiolo. Tunaelewana?” he said. 

Loosely translated to; “Today is the President’s day; let’s give him respect. Let’s listen to all leaders. Those who are used to organizing heckling, you will not return to heckling in Isiolo. Do we understand each other?” he said.

The disruption escalated when Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo attempted to address the gathering.

She was heckled and denied an opportunity to speak, forcing her to plead with the crowd.

“Let us not throw stones,” she said.

Ruto’s tough stance

Responding to the hostile reception, Ruto accused drug traffickers of funding the protests, suggesting they were retaliating against his administration’s crackdown on narcotics in the region.

“We’ve been having problems in Isiolo and Marsabit with people from other countries bringing drugs here and selling them to our children. Let me be clear – we will deport these drug dealers,” Ruto declared.

“I hear these drug dealers have brought youth to heckle us here. Listen carefully, young people – you cannot intimidate the Kenyan government,” he added.

The president remained defiant, vowing to proceed with development projects in the region despite the opposition.

“Take your threats elsewhere. I will build Isiolo,” he stated firmly.

However, his attempts to introduce his allies were met with further resistance as residents waved their hands in dissatisfaction while continuing their “Ruto must go” chants.

Unable to proceed with the program amid the growing hostility, the president was compelled to end his speech prematurely.

“You have fierce competition here,” Ruto remarked before leaving the event.