What began as a quiet voting day in Kanyuambora Ward exploded into chaos when furious residents reportedly chased away Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku from Kanyuambora Primary School. The by-election had already put the community on edge but the moment Ruku appeared at the polling centre, the atmosphere changed instantly.
Witnesses say tension swept through the crowd like a spark landing on dry grass. Word spread rapidly: “Ruku is here! Ruku is at the polling station!” Within minutes, residents poured into the school compound, their voices rising, their anger unmistakable.
The Cabinet Secretary, who had openly supported UDA candidate Leo Wamuthende, had come to “check on the voting process,” according to those around him. But to the locals, his presence felt like an intrusion an unwelcome shadow cast over an already sensitive vote.
People began shouting for him to leave, accusing him of trying to meddle in the election. The chants grew louder, fiercer, until they swallowed the entire compound. Some residents blocked the gates, forming human barriers and daring any vehicle, official or not, to move in or out.
“Not today! Not here!” they shouted, determined to defend the integrity of the vote.
The scene was raw emotion, fear, and frustration mixing into a single explosive moment.
As the mob pressed closer, security officers surrounding Ruku realized the situation was spiraling out of control. In a dramatic attempt to break through the crowd, the officers fired shots into the air. The sharp cracks echoed across the school grounds, sending people ducking and running for cover. For a few tense moments, confusion ruled.
Through the chaos, officers hurriedly escorted Ruku back to his vehicle. Residents continued shouting as he was driven away, the anger refusing to die down even as the dust settled behind the departing motorcade.
Inside the school, voting came to a standstill. Polling clerks froze. Voters hid. Fear lingered in the air long after the commotion had ended.
Only after some time did calm slowly return, allowing the electoral process to resume. But the incident left a deep mark not just on the day’s events, but on the community’s confidence in the fairness of elections.
Observers now warn that such confrontations show just how fragile the country’s trust in the voting process has become. The dramatic ousting of a Cabinet Secretary from a polling station whether intentional or not has sparked debate over what role, if any, senior government officials should play during elections.
For now, the people of Kanyuambora watch and wait, hoping that the rest of the vote unfolds peacefully, and that no more drama erupts before the ballots are counted.
