Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

- Leaders have appealed for decorum ahead of President William Ruto's Mt Kenya tour stop in Nyeri county.

Ahead of his visit to Nyeri town and Othaya constituencies on Saturday, April 5, local leaders called for restraint, urging residents to stop heckling politicians during presidential events.

The appeal follows a series of confrontational incidents earlier in the week, where leaders allied to Kenya Kwanza were publicly shouted down by residents during Ruto’s stopovers in Nyandarua county.

Addressing residents, Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga cautioned against behaviour that he said could dent the region’s image and its standing in national development politics.

Kahiga, who has lately voiced concerns over the direction of Kenya Kwanza’s leadership, insisted that the presidency should be treated with dignity regardless of internal political rifts.

"Even if there are political differences, even if there are disagreements and such issues, it is important for me to tell you this: when the President comes here to Nyeri, there is no other president, we are the ones who elected him, and we should receive him with gratitude," Governor Kahiga told residents.

The call for calm comes in the wake of an embarrassing episode in Nyandarua county, where National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri and woman rep Faith Gitau were jeered by angry crowds, even as Ruto looked on.

Leaders now fear that such scenes may play out again in Nyeri, further undermining the president’s message and casting a shadow over his tour.

Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge called for what he described as political hygiene, warning that public disruptions during national events were unhelpful and counterproductive.

"I am in this town every weekend. Please come and heckle me every weekend. But this heckling on the day the president comes here doesn’t help at all. This is a national event. Let us have political hygiene," said Mathenge.

Othaya MP Wambugu Wainaina, who will host the president in his constituency, urged constituents to give credit where it’s due, saying the head of state was only there to follow up on projects he had already initiated.

"People are saying the president is lying. The president is not lying about anything. The president’s responsibility is to delegate; he gives us the task, and we follow through. He is simply coming to check on the progress of the work he assigned us," said Wainaina.

Nyeri senator Wahome Wamatinga echoed similar sentiments, urging residents to separate politics from development.

"We support the government of the day because what they want is maendeleo. And they say nothing else but maendeleo. Politics, when the elections come in 2027, we’ll meet on the field, people can heckle each other then," Wamatinga said.

On Thursday, April 3, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah faced a hostile crowd in Nyandarua county.

Despite the disruptive reception, the National Assembly majority leader remained undeterred, stating that such noise would not hinder his commitment to serving Kenyans.

A staunch ally of Ruto, Ichung'wah emphasised that the Kenya Kwanza administration prioritizes development over engaging in political rhetoric.

Source: TUKO.co.ke