A moment of tension disrupted President William Ruto’s tour of Migori County on Sunday evening after an object, believed to be a shoe, was hurled at him during a public function in Kehancha, Kuria West Constituency.
The incident occurred while the President was launching a 200-unit affordable housing project, a key part of his administration’s plan to boost low-cost housing across the country. Swift action by security personnel led to the arrest of three individuals suspected to have been involved in the attempted attack. Fortunately, President Ruto was not harmed, and the event proceeded without further incident.
Security around the Head of State was immediately intensified, with officers visibly tightening control over subsequent stops on the itinerary. The heightened security measures come as President Ruto continues his three-day development tour of Migori County, which began on May 4 and will run through May 6.
The President’s tour includes visits to Suna East, Suna West, Rongo, Uriri, and Awendo constituencies, where he is set to commission development projects and inspect ongoing government initiatives. Among the key projects in the pipeline are the Stella-Gogo-Sibuoche tarmac road and a series of healthcare and education improvements aimed at uplifting the region.
President Ruto’s visit is seen as part of a broader political strategy to consolidate support in traditional ODM strongholds following his recent cooperation agreement with opposition leader Raila Odinga. This political outreach also follows a meeting held on March 26 at State House with leaders from Western Kenya, during which Ruto reiterated his commitment to regional development and the revival of the struggling sugar sector.
Local authorities have confirmed that investigations into the motive behind the attempted attack are underway, and they have pledged to ensure those responsible face justice.
Despite the unsettling incident, President Ruto has maintained his schedule and is expected to conclude the tour with key project launches and engagements aimed at reinforcing his development agenda in the region. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining vigilance during high-profile public events.
