Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Dennis Itumbi now says that the incident where a shoe was thrown towards President William Ruto in Kehancha was just a light moment that got out of hand.

In a statement coupled with new footage of what actually transpired before the leading to the video widely circulated seeing Ruto blocking the shoe with his arm, Itumbi described it as a moment that quickly escalated.

“Having reviewed the Migori footage — the facts are clear. What started as a light moment quickly escalated. That was just a moment that got out of hand,” he wrote.

A closer look at the video shows people in the crowd that had gathered to listen to the President with their phones on their hands.

A man is then seen raising his shoe in what seems like an imitation of those capturing the moment with their phones.

A hand then appears from next to him, hits the shoe, and that is when it flew towards where the Head of State was standing, but Ruto managed block the shoe.

Itumbi further said that he is looking for the owner of the shoe because a friend of his want to gift him a phone with an actual camera.

“Now — I’m actually looking for the owner of the ‘shoe-camera’. A friend of mine Sam Mburu is offering a real phone for the ‘shoe-cam’ guy so that he can in future create content with a real camera. So he can channel that creativity into content, just like he wanted.

“Help me find him. Inbox if you know who he is,” he said on Monday.

Videos going viral on social media showed the president dodging a flying shoe as he addressed a group of locals in Kehancha in Kuria West.

The incident has sparked massive reactions among Kenyans, with Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura terming it a step back in inculcating good morals among children.

“The government strongly condemns the incident that occurred in Kehancha, Migori County. We must respect the institution of the presidency.

“Those behind this shameful act must be apprehended. What values are we teaching our children? Let us be patriotic, let us uphold peace,” Mwaura stated.

Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the arrest.

Political leaders across the divide have also condemned the incident.

Police in Kuria West have arrested three suspects in connection with an incident in which a shoe was thrown at President William Ruto during a public address in the Kehancha area on Sunday.

The incident occurred while the President Ruto was speaking to residents about reducing the cost of farming inputs, as part of his official tour of Migori County.

A brief video circulating online captures the dramatic moment—a five-second clip showing a shoe being hurled from the crowd, striking the President on the head mid-speech.

“Tupunguze gharama ya…” President Ruto is heard saying before the shoe makes contact, forcing him to pause momentarily.

A security officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case, confirmed that investigations are ongoing. Authorities believe the act may have been politically motivated and possibly premeditated ahead of the President’s visit.

“The matter is under active investigation. We have arrested three suspects so far, but more individuals are being pursued,” the officer said.

The event was briefly disrupted but later resumed, with security visibly heightened around the President and the venue.

Local leaders have since condemned the act, calling for respect and peaceful engagement regardless of political affiliations.

The President’s office has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, but sources indicate that Ruto was unharmed and continued with his tour schedule in Migori County.

Two months before his shocking death in Nairobi, Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were had voiced serious concerns over threats to his life, citing growing insecurity and politically motivated violence within his constituency.

In a press briefing held in February 2024, the legislator raised alarm about what he described as a deliberate attempt to destabilize the peace in Kasipul through orchestrated attacks and intimidation. He lamented the rising incidents of violence that were seemingly targeted at him and his political allies, suggesting a coordinated effort to silence or intimidate his leadership.

During the briefing, Were recounted a harrowing incident that had occurred while he was attending a funeral in Got Nyang’o. According to the MP, his convoy was blocked by a group of armed individuals who had barricaded the road shortly after the funeral service. He credited his security detail for diffusing the situation, which he claimed could have easily turned fatal.

“I went to a funeral in Got Nyang’o, and after the event, the road I was supposed to use was blocked by a group of goons. Fortunately, I had security officers with me, and we managed to get through safely,” he told the press at the time.

The following day, another unsettling encounter occurred in Nyatindo, where he had gone to pay his respects at yet another funeral. As soon as he arrived, Were said, a well-known local criminal openly threatened him, warning that he would not be allowed to speak at the gathering. The MP said the hostility shocked mourners, many of whom were residents of the area and were angered by the blatant provocation.

“The villagers were visibly upset by the incident,” he said. “It was clear that this wasn’t just random unrest – it was well-planned and targeted.”

Were alleged that the violence was being fueled by individuals who were not residents of Kasipul. He accused unnamed actors of ferrying hired goons from Kisumu and Migori counties to cause chaos and threaten public safety in his area. He further suggested that these acts of aggression were politically motivated and meant to intimidate leaders who were focused on development and accountability.

In his statements, the MP urged law enforcement agencies to step in and investigate the rising wave of violence in the constituency. He emphasized that leaders must be allowed to serve their people without fear or intimidation, and that the safety of the public should be a top priority.

Tragically, Were’s fears would prove prescient.

On the night of Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Charles Ong’ondo Were was gunned down along Ngong Road in Nairobi, near the City Mortuary roundabout. According to police reports, he had just left a parliamentary session and was traveling in his vehicle. He was seated on the front passenger side when a motorcycle carrying two assailants pulled up beside the car. The passenger on the bike opened fire, targeting his side of the vehicle.

The attackers then sped off, leaving the MP fatally wounded. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but Were succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.

His sudden and violent death sent shockwaves across the country, with leaders from both sides of the political divide condemning the killing and calling for a swift and thorough investigation. The circumstances surrounding his murder have since reignited concerns over the safety of public officials and the growing culture of impunity in political violence.

As investigations continue, many are reflecting on Were’s warnings, questioning whether more could have been done to protect him—and whether his killers will ever face justice.