Tensions have escalated in Kapsabet town, Nandi County, following the cancellation of planned demonstrations by local residents. The protests, organized by a section of the population led by Cornelius Rugut, were meant to demand the adoption of an Ad-hoc committee report on alleged corruption within the county administration. The report is set to be tabled at the county assembly today, and the residents had planned to show their support for it through public demonstrations.
However, the Kapsabet police have called off the planned protests, citing security concerns related to the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams. The police communicated that they could not provide adequate security for the demonstrations due to the increased deployment of officers overseeing the exams. The ongoing exams, which are crucial for thousands of students, have heightened the need for heightened security measures, leaving law enforcement stretched thin.
Rugut and other residents had formally notified the police about their intentions to hold a “citizen assembly” and engage in picketing in Kapsabet on Tuesday and Wednesday. In the notice, they expressed their intent to pressure the county’s lawmakers to adopt the findings of the Ad-hoc committee report. Their primary goal is to bring attention to what they describe as widespread corruption within the county government, with a particular focus on county executives and top officials.
“The aim of our picketing is to show solidarity and support for the Ad-hoc committee report scheduled to be tabled and debated upon within the next three days as listed in our notice,” the document read in part. The committee, led by Kapsabet Town MCA Benjamin Kerich, had worked diligently to prepare the report, which is expected to have significant consequences for the county leadership.
The committee’s report, which has been eagerly awaited, contains serious allegations of corruption and inefficiency within Nandi County’s executive. Intelligence reports have suggested that the demonstrations could lead to violent clashes, fueled by differing opinions on the report’s recommendations. As a result, the police have prioritized the safety of students and the smooth conduct of the KCSE exams over the planned protests.
One of the key issues the residents want to address is the alleged corruption involving top officials within the Nandi County government. According to the report, as many as seven senior government officials, including county ministers and chief officers, could face dismissal. Among those mentioned, three county ministers and four chief officers are said to be named in the report for their alleged involvement in corruption and mismanagement.
The residents, frustrated by the persistence of graft in the county administration, are calling for swift action by the county assembly. They have demanded that all MCAs fully support the report and take immediate action to remove the officials implicated in the corruption scandals. The report has fueled deep anger among the residents, who believe that the removal of the implicated individuals is the only way to restore integrity to the county’s governance.
However, the situation has been complicated by allegations of attempts to undermine the report. Some individuals accused of being named in the report have allegedly tried to influence its outcome through bribery and coercion. Benjamin Kerich, the chair of the Ad-hoc committee, refuted these claims, stating that the report had been completed according to the committee’s mandate and would be presented to the assembly without any alterations.
“We have finalized our report and we are tabling it at the assembly as it is. No need for too much speculation; instead, let’s wait and see,” Kerich stated. He emphasized that the committee had done its work thoroughly, and the findings would speak for themselves.
Despite the police’s cancellation of the protests, the residents remain resolute in their desire to see the report acted upon. Many are now calling for the immediate impeachment of those named in the report, and they have vowed to continue applying pressure on the county assembly to ensure that the necessary actions are taken.
As the political drama unfolds in Kapsabet, all eyes will be on the county assembly today to see how the MCAs respond to the findings of the Ad-hoc committee and whether the residents’ demands for accountability will be met. The events in Kapsabet serve as a reminder of the power of grassroots mobilization in demanding transparency and accountability from public officials.
