Bomet Residents Heckle Governor Barchok in Ruto’s Presence, Again
President William Ruto found himself in a tricky spot on Sunday, December 29, when residents of Bomet openly booed their governor, Hillary Barchok, during a public event.
The President, who had attended a church service at AIC Konoin, later addressed the gathering alongside several officials, including Governor Barchok. While the crowd warmly welcomed Ruto’s speech, the atmosphere shifted when he invited Barchok to speak.
A video shared by Kenyans.co.ke showed the dramatic moment when hundreds of residents raised their hands to signal disapproval of the governor. Ruto appeared at a loss for words as the crowd’s hostility grew louder.
Barchok tried to calm the situation but was met with even louder jeers. Despite the disapproval, the governor attempted to downplay the event, telling the President:
“Your Excellency, welcome to Bomet, your home. We have our internal issues, but we will solve them ourselves. We don’t need interference. Welcome again, and thank you.”
This incident mirrored a similar one in March 2024, where the governor also faced public backlash in Ruto’s presence. At that time, the President stepped in, urging residents to show respect and give Barchok a chance. Ruto had said, “You elect your leaders, including MCAs, MPs, Senators, and the governor. Please behave and calm down.”
The reasons behind the residents’ discontent with Barchok remain unclear. However, his leadership has been controversial over the last two years.
In August, Bomet’s Members of County Assembly (MCAs) considered impeaching his cabinet over a disputed KSh 96 million allocation. To address the tension, Barchok suspended three County Executive Committee (CEC) members.
This conflict between the governor and MCAs over the funds stirred criticism, with the governor accused of misrepresenting facts to the public.
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Bomet Residents Heckle Governor Barchok in Ruto’s Presence, Again
