Tolgos, Chepkonga heckled during Uhuru North Rift Tour

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tour of the North Rift took a dramatic turn this weekend when members of the public booed Jubilee nominees Alex Tolgos and Samwel Chepkonga in front of the Head of State.

Tolgos, who is the sitting Elgeyo Marakwet governor, was forced to cut short his speech Saturday when Chepkorio residents demanded to be addressed by independent candidate Moses Changwony.

The crowd – which was ostensibly allied to Changwony, a longtime personal assistant to former cabinet minister Nicholas Biwott – refused to let Tolgos continue with his speech.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen had to intervene, and Changwony was eventually allowed to address the crowd.

“I’m vying for the Elgeyo Marakwet seat as an independent, but I am also campaigning for you (Uhuru). There is some propaganda alleging that we, independents, are not with UhuRuto, and we’d like to stop,” Changwony said.

Ainabkoi legislator Samwel Chepkonga experienced the same humiliation when Uhuru visited his region – an event that some regional political pundits have interpreted as a sign that the citizenry will ‘rebel’ against party-fronted leaders come August 8.

A section of sitting Jubilee leaders have opted to run as independents after losing out in the party primaries, with a majority saying that their decision to run against a Jubilee Party nominee was instigated by unfair nominations.

Led by Kiambu Governor William Kabgo, the candidates have pledged their allegiance to Uhuru, promising that they will back his re-election campaign.