A teargas canister lobed by police hit Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto on Sunday leaving him with an injury below his right eye.
Ruto had gone to a stadium to meet his supporters after a church service at Njerian AGC in Silibwet Township Ward. He was to address complaints some of them had among them arrests and harassment by police officers.
An argument ensued between the governor and the police officers after handful of his supporters joined him in asking the police to release the arrested youths.
“Around ten or more police officers retreated and lobbed tear gas canisters directly at the governor in quick succession. One canister hit him below his right eye in the melee. As a result, he sustained a cut which made him bleed,” read a statement by Kiprotich Samoei, the Director of Communication, Bomet County government.
His security personnel whisked him out of the stadium under a hail of tear gas volleys from the police who was charging at them.
Kiprotich said the Chama Cha Mashinani leader was out of danger after undergoing first aid and wound dressing by his doctor.
He condemned the police over excessive use of force during the incident, claiming they were acting on political instructions, not the rule of law.
“It was an unprovoked and gratuitous act of police brutality that should be condemned by all Kenyans of goodwill,” he said.