SIAYA, Sept 2026 – Residents of Siaya County have strongly condemned acts of political hooliganism witnessed in parts of Nyanza during President William Ruto’s four-day working tour of the region.
The residents cited incidents of weaponised heckling targeting leaders, especially from within the ODM party, warning that the trend threatens to erode the foundation of social democracy the party has championed.
Speaking in Rarieda, the residents praised President Ruto for the transformative development projects he launched, while apologising for the heckling incidents witnessed at Kalandin and other venues.
“We are very grateful to the President for the development he brought to us. But we are sorry for the incidents of heckling that were seen when he was at Kalandin. So we apologise for that and we ask for forgiveness,” said Ambrose Nyawalo, a resident of Rarieda.
Awiti Komer, another resident of Rarieda, said they will not allow individuals to create chaos in the constituency or the county.
“We want a peaceful transition. Even if it is politics, let it be peaceful. There is no way a President comes to launch a programme and then some people bring politics into it. We are castigating that in the strongest terms. Next time let us be peaceful and let the President do what he wants to do,” Komer said.
He added that the chaos witnessed in Kisumu and Mombasa should not be repeated, noting that Kalandin belongs to all Kenyans.
Clinton Oyaya, a student leader in Siaya County, also condemned the heckling of Suba North MP Millie Mabona, Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor and Siaya County Assembly Speaker George Okode in the presence of the President at Kisumu Port, Muhoroni and Kalandin centre in Asembo, Rarieda.
“The very people who are organising this booing are also Members of Parliament and leaders of ODM. Our party encourages democracy. How are we democratic when we are discouraging other leaders from engaging citizens? It is high time we reconsider ourselves,” Oyaya said.
He noted that even under the broad-based government arrangement, ODM must remain united.
“However broad-based we are, we must organise our house so that it becomes stronger, then we go to the negotiation table as one. President William Ruto needs us all, not just a portion of our people. George Okode has his supporters, Ruto needs them and ODM needs them. Millie Mabona has her supporters, Ruto needs them and we also need them as a party. Let us bring them together so that we have a strong movement,” he added.
Jairo Okoko, who identified himself as a student of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga school of thought, said youth are often used by politicians to fight their battles.
“We as students and young people have come out to condemn what we saw. When politicians want something, it is we, the ordinary people, who end up being beaten and suffering. They remain friends while we suffer. We say we don’t want to see this again,” Okoko said.
Washington Obado, a youth representative from Rarieda and a leader at Rarieda Technical College, thanked President Ruto for the development projects brought to Kalandin residents but condemned the use of youth to heckle leaders.
“The only thing I would like to reject and condemn is the issue of youths being used to heckle leaders when they come to share their opinions and ideas on development,” Obado said.
They, however, lauded acts of political maturity exhibited by political leaders in Migori and Homabay Counties during the tour.
“Let us youths be focused. The Luo people are known to be civilised. Let us embrace that civilisation and always promote peace,” he added.
