- President William Ruto’s development meeting in Sigor, West Pokot, ended abruptly after rival groups disrupted the gathering and threw objects at leaders
- Pokot South MP David Pkosing was forced to cut short his speech as sections of the crowd hurled stones, soil and water bottles towards him
- Ruto also inspected a KSh 4.4 billion road project in West Pokot, which he said was 60% complete and would improve connectivity to Lodwar
A development meeting attended by President William Ruto in Sigor, West Pokot County, descended into chaos on Friday, October 16, after rival political groups disrupted the gathering, hurling stones, soil and water bottles at leaders.
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The confrontation forced Ruto to step down from the top of his vehicle as he addressed residents, with members of the public scrambling for safety. The rally was brought to an abrupt end before several leaders could deliver their speeches.
Tension rose when local leaders were invited to address the gathering, with Governor Simon Kachapin, Senator Julius Murgor, Woman Representative Rael Kasiwai and Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong facing heckling from sections of the crowd.
What sparked chaos at Ruto’s rally in West Pokot?
The situation deteriorated further when Pokot South MP David Pkosing, who is seeking to become West Pokot governor, was invited to speak. Some attendees threw water bottles, soil and stones in his direction, forcing him to cut short his address as rival groups continued to disrupt the meeting.
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The unrest eventually forced leaders and residents to leave the venue amid concerns for their safety.
The incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened political tension in Sigor, where rival groups reportedly linked to Lochakapong and Pkosing clashed overnight and on Friday morning ahead of the president’s visit.
The reported clashes allegedly left one person dead and several others critically injured. Circumstances surrounding the reported death and injuries had not been fully established.
What did Ruto say about development projects in West Pokot?
Despite the disruption, Ruto highlighted his administration’s development agenda for West Pokot, pointing to investments in roads, affordable housing, modern markets and electricity connectivity.
In a statement following his engagement with residents, the president said the projects were already producing tangible economic benefits, including a rise in land values.
“Our massive investments in roads, affordable housing, modern markets and electricity connectivity, among others, are already yielding tangible results, with value of the land rising more than 10-fold,” Ruto said, describing the trend as evidence of the economic potential unlocked by development projects.
The president also inspected construction works on the 35-kilometre Kopasi River–Lomut–Sigor–Marich Pass road, a KSh 4.4 billion project that he said was 60% complete.
The road forms part of the wider Nakuru–Marich Pass route, which is intended to provide an alternative to the Nakuru–Eldoret route, ease traffic congestion and shorten the journey to Lodwar by approximately 70 kilometres, cutting travel time by more than two hours.
Ruto said the project would improve access to markets and investment opportunities in West Pokot and the wider Kerio Valley, supporting the government’s broader goal of reducing regional economic disparities.
Source: TUKO.co.ke