Three individuals who were arrested in connection with an incident involving a shoe being hurled in the direction of President William Ruto have been released without charges. The event occurred on May 5 during the President’s visit to Kehancha in Kuria West Constituency, Migori County, where he was launching a 200-unit affordable housing project.
Security officers had acted swiftly to detain the three suspects following the unexpected disturbance. The shoe was seen flying toward the dais where President Ruto was addressing the crowd during his three-day working tour of Migori. However, a detailed investigation involving the review of several video recordings of the event revealed that the act was not intentional.
A senior security official, speaking to KBC on condition of anonymity, stated that one of the individuals was merely holding a shoe—possibly in imitation of others using their phones to record the event. At some point, another person reportedly complained that the shoe was obstructing their view of the President. This prompted someone to knock the shoe aside, unintentionally propelling it toward the podium.
Following this clarification, authorities opted not to press charges against the individuals involved. The conclusion that there was no deliberate attempt to target the Head of State helped to diffuse rising tensions in the area.
The incident drew sharp condemnation from local leaders and members of the clergy, who described it as shameful and disrespectful. They emphasized the need for dignity and proper conduct during public events, particularly those involving national leaders.
Leaders also used the moment to remind the public of the importance of supporting development initiatives such as the affordable housing project, which is part of President Ruto’s broader economic agenda. They urged citizens to maintain peace and decorum during such functions, regardless of political or personal views.
With the matter resolved, President Ruto continued his engagements in the region uninterrupted, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to bringing development closer to the people in all parts of Kenya.
