Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi has warned young people against disrupting leaders' public engagements or surrounding official government vehicles, saying such actions are unlawful and could have serious security implications.
The chairperson of the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee said he was increasingly concerned by incidents in Siaya County where groups of youths allegedly attended meetings they had not been invited to or confronted him after public events.
Speaking in Siaya, Atandi contrasted the situation with a recent church fundraiser in Nandi County, where he said his visit proceeded peacefully.
“I landed by helicopter, walked to the church where the fundraiser was taking place, and left without any youths following me or forcefully demanding money from me,” he said.
The legislator claimed that in Siaya, groups of youths had been travelling from areas including Ugunja, Ugenya and Gem to attend meetings despite not being invited.
Atandi also cautioned youths against surrounding or hanging onto his official government vehicle after public events, warning that such behaviour could easily be misinterpreted by his security personnel.
“Once I am in my government vehicle, I am under the protection of armed security officers. If you come close to the car and officers suspect you may be carrying a weapon, they will respond. I want you to be orderly,” he said.
The MP reaffirmed President William Ruto's commitment to equitable distribution of development resources and urged residents to continue supporting the broad-based government, which he said was committed to delivering projects across all constituencies.
Atandi's remarks come amid heightened political debate following calls by leaders allied to the opposition for the arrest and resignation of Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs over the fatal shooting of 28-year-old youth mobiliser Cecil Ouma.
Ouma was allegedly shot dead on June 30 inside PS Fikirini's vehicle along Park Road after a Kikao programme in Kariokor attended by the state official.
According to reports, Ouma had approached the Principal Secretary's vehicle to collect money intended to reimburse youths he had mobilised for the event. However, the circumstances surrounding what transpired inside the vehicle before the fatal shooting remain unclear and remain under investigation.