Arrest Narok demo organisers, governor Ruto tells DPP Tobiko

BOMET: The Council of Governors has condemned Monday's demonstration in Narok that left two people dead and property worth millions of shillings destroyed.

In a statement sent to newsrooms Tuesday, Council chairman Isaac Ruto asked the Government to take action against the organisers of the demonstration, saying it was ill intended.

Mr Ruto also faulted MPs from the county, whom he accused of being behind the demonstration at the expense of lives and public property.

He said the MPs should be held accountable and asked the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko to take action against the leaders.

"The Director of Public Prosecutions should swing into action immediately and hold those behind the demonstration accountable since the law must be respected by all people and not even Members of Parliament are above it," said Ruto.

The Bomet governor said while the protesters were within their right to demonstrate against the issues raised, they should have followed the right channels of presenting petitions against their county government before taking to the streets.

"There are channels within the law that the protesters should have used to voice their issues instead of calling the masses to the streets and in the end, lives were lost and property destroyed," Ruto said.

RULE OF LAW

He said despite Narok lawmakers having sworn to promote the rule of law and values in the Constitution, they went ahead and disobeyed the same laws by organising an illegal demonstration.

"Their actions amounted to incitement to violence. They have also breached governance values in the Constitution. The council urges the Director of Public Prosecutions to take urgent appropriate legal action against the leaders," he added.

Elsewhere, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Narok branch condemned the killing of two protestors who were allegedly shot by police during the violent demonstrations against Governor Samuel ole Tunai's leadership.

The lawyers demanded the arrest and prosecution of security personnel involved, accusing the national government of taking sides in the wrangles pitting the governor and a number of local leaders led by Senator Stephen ole Ntutu.

"We condemn in the strongest terms possible the killing of the two innocent protestors. That amounted to extra-judicial killings by police.

"The matter should be investigated and those responsible held to account," said Charles Sena, the branch chairman.

The Government, he said, should have mediated to have the warring factions sit and dialogue, a development that could have deterred death, injuries and destruction of property.