Police in Shianda Mumias East constituency has canceled a church function that was supposed to be presided over by the Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday 11 October 2020.
The cancellation came after a request by St. Leo Shianda Catholic Church in Mumias to have Ruto grace the fundraising in aid of church construction was turned down.
Through a letter sent to the church from Shianda Police Station OCS, police turned down the request in what the letter termed as a possible security threat.
The disappointment comes just a day after police dispersed Deputy President William Ruto’s supporters in his much anticipated Kisii, Nyamira counties visit scheduled for Thursday 8th
“Humble the above request is hereby denied due to;
Covid-19 public health instructions and directives.
Due to security threats.
Take note that there will be no holy mass involving all the 10 sub parishes under Burmini sub parish which is ideally the entire Mumias East Constituency area of jurisdiction at St. Leo Catholic Church Shianda on 11th October 2020 and there should be no any form of gathering around the said church.
Any gathering will be considered a contravention of Section 5 of the Public Order Act CAP 56 Laws of Kenya and will not be tolerated” read the statement from police,” read the statement from the OCS.
Ruto allies led by former Senators Johnson Muthama, Boni Khalwale, Omar Hassan and MP Kimani Ichungwa were also on Friday, prevented by police from conducting a closed-door meeting with friends and independent candidate Feisal Abdalla in the Msambweni parliamentary by-election.
Police said the four had violated the recently announced directives by not notifying the law enforcers of the same three days prior to the meeting.
The order has however elicited mixed reactions online with Ruto allies coming out to shame the government over what they said curtailing freedom of worship.
Ruto was to be hosted by the area MP Benjamin Wasiali, who is an adamant supporter of the DP.
Here are some of the reactions from Ruto allies.
“OCS Shianda should have simply said “YOUR REQUEST HAS BEEN DISALLOWED BECAUSE OF INVITING DP RUTO” stated Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga.
https://twitter.com/kipmurkomen/status/1314585758813106178?s=20
We have sunk so low as a Nation it's unbelievable, why stop a church gathering because of William Ruto?.
Looks like we are unofficially a police state. pic.twitter.com/MzlF1Ai4dS— Hon Caleb Kositany MP Soy (@ckositany) October 9, 2020
They are now curtailing the Freedom of Worship and Assembly via the backdoor. We wish them well. Police cancel Catholic Church Mass in Mumias – Kenya. Please pray for us @Pontifex. @SecPompeo @USAmbKenya @JaneMarriottUK @EuMordue pic.twitter.com/T2gErYMrA5
— Dennis Itumbi, HSC (@OleItumbi) October 9, 2020
Luke 5:30-32 But the Pharisees&teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples,”Why do u eat&drink with tax collectors&sinners?"Jesus answered them,”It is not the healthy who need a doctor,but the sick.I haven’t come to call the righteous,but sinners…
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) October 9, 2020
