Deputy President William Ruto’s name was widely mentioned in the killing of two women at Daraja Mbili market in Kisii County on Thursday evening.
Unverified reports had indicated that police officers who shot the two female traders were part of DP Ruto’s security detail.
The rumours gained some credence from the fact that on Thursday, Ruto was at the Gusii Stadium in Nyaribari Chache Constituency for celebrations of the International Day of Older Persons.
Renowned journalist Larry Madowo, in several tweets that he has since pulled down, seemingly affirmed that the shooting had been done by the DP’s security team.
The unofficial reports cited that Ruto’s team entered into a scuffle with boda-boda operators who had caused an accident when the shootings occurred.
A parody Jubilee Party twitter handle could also have thrown many off balance after the account tweeted: “The Incident involving DP Ruto’s guards killing two women in Kisii is regrettable, GoK will cover the funerals. The guards have apologized.”
Nonetheless, it later emerged that Police officers attached to the Administration Police Quick Response Team (QRT) shot the women, who were intervening in the fight.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Ruto’s spokesman David Mugonyi rubbished the claims stating that: “The DP is protected by GSU and those women were shot by APs. The DP left Kisii at 2pm the incident happened after 6pm.”
At the same time, a source close to the DP highlighted that Mr Ruto did not use his motorcade during his visit to Kisii.
“He flew to the venue and flew out. He did not drive. He did not have any motorcade. The fracas between APs and boda-boda operators happened well after 6pm. The DP is protected by the Recce Squad (GSU) and not APs,” the source said.
