A section of Rift Valley leaders has castigated the move by the government to cancel the much-anticipated rally that was to be held in Bomet on Saturday.
The meeting sought to address the current Mau evictions.
Kipngetich Korir who serves as the South Rift Law Society of Kenya chairman together with human rights activist Tyson Ngetich who had applied the permit for the use of Bomet Green Stadium have termed the move by the authorities to withdraw the permit as 'not adding up'.
''It is a fallacy that Mr Omoding is citing the ongoing national examination for [cancelling] the rally, yet we all know that no exams are conducted on Saturday,” Korir said during a press briefing as quoted by Nation.
Bomet County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding had said the meeting was called off to allow a peaceful environment for the national examination.
''The meeting was cancelled on security grounds and to allow students to sit for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) [examination] without any sideshows. We have officially communicated the message to the people who sought ... the permit,” said Omoding.
Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok who led the other leaders on his part urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to consider dialogue to help the people who have been evicted from the Mau.
''When people are told that they should leave their rightfully owned private property and return to their ancestral land, like what is happening in Narok South, we are setting a very bad precedent for the country,” Barchok said as quoted by Nation.
Several police officers were deployed on Saturday to ensure that the meeting won't take place.