A development meeting attended by President William Ruto in Sigor, West Pokot County, was abruptly disrupted on Friday, October 16, when rival political groups began throwing stones, soil and water bottles at leaders present.

The disturbance forced Ruto to step down from the top of his vehicle as he addressed residents, and several leaders, including Governor Simon Kachapin, Senator Julius Murgor, Woman Representative Rael Kasiwai and Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong, faced heckling from sections of the crowd.

Pokot South MP David Pkosing, who is contesting the West Pokot governorship, was invited to speak but was forced to cut short his address after attendees hurled water bottles, soil and stones in his direction.

The confrontation escalated to the point where leaders and residents left the venue for safety, ending the rally before several scheduled speeches could be delivered.

The incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened political tension in Sigor, where rival groups linked to Lochakapong and Pkosing reportedly clashed overnight and on Friday morning ahead of the president’s visit.

Reports indicate that the clashes left one person dead and several others critically injured, although the circumstances surrounding the fatalities and injuries have not been fully established.

Despite the disruption, President Ruto highlighted a KSh 4.4 billion, 35‑kilometre road project – the Kopasi River–Lomut–Sigor–Marich Pass road – which he said is 60 % complete and will improve connectivity to Lodwar.

Ruto explained that the road forms part of the wider Nakuru–Marich Pass route, intended to provide an alternative to the Nakuru–Eldoret corridor, shorten the journey to Lodwar by about 70 kilometres and cut travel time by more than two hours.

He added that the project will boost market access and investment opportunities in West Pokot and the Kerio Valley, supporting the government’s goal of reducing regional economic disparities.