Business community in Kehancha town now claims last Sunday’s attack on President William Ruto during his recent visit in Migori County was not a mere coincidence but a deliberate and politically motivated act.

The business fraternity observed contrary to attempts by the local leaders to sanitise the issue that has a bearing on the president’s security, it was a deliberate move to use the president’s visit to whip up political emotions between two Kuria sub-clans.

Without naming the politician, they pointed an accusing finger at a senior politician with roots in Bugumbe sub-clan of the Kuria community as having a hand in the move to cause drama during the head of state’s public rally on Sunday.

Speaking at a separate press briefing in Kehancha town, away from one convened by Principal Secretary for Social Protection Joseph Motari, the business people regretted the incident, saying it had tainted the moral and image of the Kuria community.

Led by Omahe Mwita, Chairman of Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) Migori County branch, the group pointed out that the incident was deliberate appealed to security agencies to do thorough investigations to uncover the truth.

“We regret and apologise for the bad behaviour shown at the president’s function in Kehancha town, we, the business people here in Kehancha town, believe that the individual responsible was influenced politically and had been sent by outsiders to portray our community and especially the Bakira clan as opposed to the president,” Omahe said.

He said the events leading up to the president’s visit to the town raised serious questions, specifically citing the presence of many outsiders (non-Bakira clan members) who were ferried in busses to the venue.

“Ever since, Kuria leaders have never ferried people to presidential functions in Kehancha Town. Why this time round?” Omahe posed the question.

The Kuria community has four sub-clans: Bugumbe, which occupies Mabera and Isebania, the Bukira clan that lives around and within Kehancha town that form Kuria West Constituency and Bairege and the Banyabasi clans that form the Kuria East Constituency, currently held by MP, Kitayama Marwa.

According to the local politics, the Bakira and the Bugumbe clans have never had cordial relationship since time immemorial, with the later, where the current members of parliaments (MP) Mathews Robi comes from seen to be always holding senior government positions and high profile political seats at the expense of the Bakira clan.

In her address, Elizabeth Gati, the chairlady of Kehancha’s business community, condemned the attack and called for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

“The person or persons involved must not walk scot-free. The law must take its course here and have the guilty one severely punished,” she remarked.

Additionally, Rajab Jairo, representing the Muslim business community, reaffirmed their support for President Ruto and emphasised their desire for peaceful coexistence and development in the region.

“Kehancha is home to many diverse communities living in harmony, drawn here by our rich gold resources and the peaceful environment. Our region is known for peace, not violence or political chaos,” stated Jairo.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Polycarp Ochieng and Richard Chacha