Evans Kidero condemns heckling at Uhuru Kenyatta's rally in Migori

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero addresses reporters at his office on July 31, 2014. In the last 18 months he has been the governor, there is nothing to write home about, writes Peter Omondi. PHOTO | GERALD ANDERSON | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The presidential guard threw a security cordon around the tent where the President and other dignitaries sat.
  • The youths hurled shoes at the presidential dais, causing security tension at a meeting addressed by President Kenyatta in Migori County.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has condemned Monday’s incident where youths threw shoes at the dais at a meeting addressed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in Migori County.

Dr Kidero called the act “archaic, barbaric and uncivilised”.

“Every leader worth his salt must condemn with the strongest terms the heckling and lack of respect for the President,” he said.

Speaking to the Nation by phone, Mr Kidero said the President is a symbol of national unity and an expression of people’s sovereignty and needed to be respected.

“There should be political tolerance of different ideas,” he said.

The governor, who has in the past also fallen victim to boos and heckling by supporters of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy due to his stand on various issues, said a majority of Nyanza residents supported President Kenyatta’s visit to the area.

'MISGUIDED ELEMENTS

“The President should ignore (the) few misguided elements,” he said.

He said the residents were happy with President Kenyatta’s move to release Sh1.1 billion to end Nyanza sugarcane farmers’ misery.

“We thank him for visiting Migori and helping sort out farmers’ issues,” Mr Kidero said.

The money released by the President will be used to clear payment arrears the growers are owed by cane millers.

The youths hurled shoes at the presidential dais, causing security tension.

The group had taken strategic positions in front of the dais and started shouting ODM slogans soon after Migori Governor Okoth Obado moved to the microphone to address the gathering.

The youths also threw plastic chairs across the field and aimed the shoes at the dais, although it was not clear who the target was.

The presidential guard threw a security cordon around the tent where the President and other dignitaries sat.

President Kenyatta, who was in Migori to launch a Sh7 billion mosquito-net distribution campaign, watched the unfolding drama calmly.