Change of heart as Ruto gets nod to host ‘hustlers’
By People Daily, October 14, 2020Evans Nyakundi and Robert Ochoro
In a surprise turn of events, Police yesterday allowed Deputy President William Ruto to go ahead with a planned fundraiser in Nyamira County tomorrow.
Nyamira South OCS Chief Inspector Sasura Mohammed confirmed to People Daily yesterday that he had received an application from West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemosi to be allowed to host the meeting to be presided over by the DP at Kebirigo center in the constituency.
In a letter dated yesterday and addressed to the MP, Sasura said the permission to hold the meeting had been granted.
“Take note that the permission for the fundraising for the Nyamira South sub-county boda boda sacco scheduled October 15 at 10am at Sironga sports ground to be presided by the Deputy President His Excellency William Ruto has been granted,” he wrote.
He however directed that the meeting be held in compliance with the advisory directives by the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) and in conformity with the Public Order Act, and adherence to Covid-19 health protocols.
It was, however, not clear whether another scheduled fundraiser for small scale traders at Kenyanya Grounds in Bomachoge Borabu constituency, Kisii County on Friday would go on after the local police remained non-committal on its fate.
Kenyenya sub-county Police Commander Philip Oyugi yesterday said organisers of the funds drive have not applied for a permit for the fundraiser as required by the law.
Oyugi said he had not gotten any communication from his Officer Commanding Station (OCS) over the planned funds drive to be presided over by the DP.
Speaking to People Daily on the phone yesterday, the officer said they were still waiting for the organisers to apply before he comments on the matter.
“I cannot comment on anything since they have not applied. Let us wait for the organisers to apply,” he said.
However, Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi said they had applied for the permit and were waiting for a response from the station commander.
“We have applied for the permit to conduct a funds drive for the small-scale traders. If we are denied the permit, we will inform the traders,” Maangi said.
Maangi and lawmakers Silvanus Osoro, South Mugirango and Alfah Miruka are the DP’s staunch supporters in Kisii County and have hosted him for several fund drives for churches, boda boda operators and women groups.
The meetings come barely four days to the Mashujaa Day celebrations to be held in Kisii town on Tuesday.
The town has witnessed a flurry of activities over the last one month with the country’s security apparatus literally pitching camp in the area to finalise security arrangements ahead of the event to be presided over by President Kenyatta.
Tomorrow and Friday’s meetings also come only a week after similar events were violently dispersed by armed policemen last Thursday, forcing the DP to call off the two events and reschedule them for this week.
The DP had been expected to preside over a fundraiser in Nyamira county last Thursday before heading to the neighboring Kisii the following day.
It was not lost to observers that two days before the Nyamira event, the National Security Advisory Council (Nsac) chaired by the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua sat and issued tough guidelines governing the holding of public events.
The guidelines, which appeared targeted at the DP who has been holding a series of meetings at his Karen residence in Nairobi and other parts of the country, included the convenors being required to notify the local police of the event at least three days in advance.
The convenors were also required to observe Covid-19 containment measures during such meetings.
The guidelines state that even in cases where the meetings are authorised, the regulating officer or any police officer of or above the rank of an Inspector General may stop or prevent the holding of such meetings.