Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso failed to deliver her New Year address on Monday night after she encountered a hostile crowd at a local stadium.
Dr Laboso who was in the company of Senator Christopher Langat, Woman Rep Joyce Korir and several MCAs were greeted by residents chanting Chama Cha Mashinani slogans at the function.
Residents who braved the drizzle and a cold night waved the CCM placards and chanted support for the party as they surged forward while the leaders and organizers watched in dismay from the dais.
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Dr Laboso were forced to sneak out of the function held at Bomet Green stadium after it turned out she was in for a hostile reception.
The ceremony which entailed prayers and an all night long entertainment by various secular and gospel artistes and comedians had been organized by the county government in collaboration with Taach FM, a local radio station.
“It is a tradition for the sitting governor and the leaders present to address the participants in such functions, but this time around, the crowd could not allow their representatives to do that,” said Mr Dancel Kirui, a former parliamentary aspirant in Bomet Central.
Mr Kirui said, “This is an indictment on the leaders of the county who should read the writing on the wall. It speaks of volumes of how the elected leaders are out of touch with the voters on the ground.”
Former governor Isaac Ruto, the Chama Cha Mashinani party leader who was dislodged from the position by Dr Laboso in the last general election, did not attend the ceremony.