National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, Council of Governors Chairman Isaac Ruto brawl mars ceremony

Kenya: National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale clashed with Council of Governors Chairman Isaac Ruto over the referendum push in the presence of Deputy President William Ruto.

The altercation marred the Mara Day celebrations in Narok County yesterday.

The confrontation that elicited shouts and heckling from the public erupted after Duale accused Ruto of failing to account for Sh184 million meant for development of Bomet County.

Duale told Ruto who was sitting pensively at the dais: "Hii pesa ni ya wakenya sio ya mama yako bwana. Hii pesa sio ya baba yako." (These funds are not your funds, they belong to Kenyans).

Duale, amid jeers from the audience, dismissed the push by governors for more allocations to counties, saying this was an idea that Kenyans demanded for in 2010.

Duale charged: "You can run around the country, calling for referendum but one day, you will appear before the Senate."

Governor Ruto shot up immediately and it took the intervention of Narok Governor Samuel Tunai, his deputy Evelyn Aruasa, Senator Stephen Ntutu, County Commissioner Kassim Farah and the DP's security detail to contain him. The DP and the Tanzanian delegation watched as the politicians tore into each other.

Governor Ruto who had been invited to talk before Duale was cheered by the public as he took to the podium. He insisted that they will not back down in their push for a referendum and accused MPs of failing to represent the electorate.

The DP apologised to the Tanzanian delegation, cautioning leaders to be mindful of what they say and do because they lead millions.