- Kindiki said that he has ordered the county security chief to arrest anyone believed to be behind any such acts.
- He insisted that such people would be crushed, regardless of their political affiliation.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has asked the Trans Nzoia County Security Committee to be firm, ruthless and merciless to politicians who sponsor violence in the Devolved unit.
Speaking on Monday, Kindiki said that he has ordered the county security chief to arrest anyone believed to be behind any such acts.
He insisted that such people would be crushed, regardless of their political affiliation.
"I have left very firm and clear directives on the Trans Nzoia County Security Committee to be firm ruthless and merciless on all people who sponsor, finance, encourage, support, aid and abate goons and political thugs who go to disrupt meetings organised by people of a different viewpoint," he said.
"And it doesn't matter whether the organisers are pro or anti-government. We will crush them equally and nobody is above the law."
The Interior CS further stated that the government has noticed with concern, an increasing tendency of intolerance among political leaders.
Kindiki said that while politicians are allowed to disagree on ideologies and views, they are not allowed to disrupt meetings organised by their opponents.
He added that it is a criminal offense to harass, intimidate, or incite the public against each other
"We are asking political leaders to conduct their politics within the law and they must maintain peace in their political meetings. No person is allowed to disrupt public meetings, to use goons to mete out violence and harass members of the public," Kindiki said.
"Politicians are allowed to differ on ideologies, programs, policies and viewpoints because our constitution allows multiparty democracy. However, no politician, of whatever stature is allowed to use violence, goons and other criminals to harass, intimidate or incite the public against each other."
The CS was on Monday a tour of seven counties, where he met top security chiefs from each of the counties.
In his Kericho stop, Kindiki ordered a crackdown on organisers and financers of the heckling that was witnessed in Kericho and Bomet counties during President William Ruto's visit to the Rift over the weekend.
The Interior boss told the Kericho County Security Management Team that they have done commendably well in law enforcement and prevention of crime.
However, while acknowledging that crime statistics have gone down, Kindiki stated that incidents of disorderly conduct and violence in political meetings are unacceptable.
"You must expeditiously conclude investigations into the recent incidents and apprehend all persons who organise, finance, and orchestrate hooliganism in the county," Kindiki said.