A fight between rival groups disrupted the Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival at Sekenani Gate in Narok West on Saturday. It broke out as President William Ruto arrived for the closing day. Videos posted online showed attendees running for safety. Several chairs were overturned, and some lay broken near the main dais.
Pulse Live Kenya and The Eastleigh Voice reported that the groups were allied to Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo and Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu. People Daily described them as rival political factions. Citizen Digital reported that attendees threw things at each other. Some people carried traditional Maasai rungus. The Eastleigh Voice said it was unclear whether they took part in the fight.
According to Pulse Live Kenya, calm returned after Governor Ntutu and Narok Senator Ledama Olekina urged the groups to stop. Officers from the Presidential Escort Unit and the General Service Unit then formed a cordon around Ruto. The programme resumed after a short break. The Eastleigh Voice reported that Ruto later received blessings from Maa elders.
Reports differed on what happened to the President. Pulse Live Kenya and Tuko said in their headlines that Ruto was evacuated. Pulse Live Kenya's own report, however, said he stayed at the event. It was unclear whether he had reached the podium when the fight started. The cause of the clash, any injuries and any arrests had not been confirmed at the time of publication.
People Daily reported that Narok Town MCA Douglas Masikonde accused Ruto of neglecting Maasai community interests. He cited land ownership, compensation linked to gold mining and development projects. People Daily also reported that Senator Olekina appeared to try to take a microphone from nominated Senator Hezena while she was speaking at the event.
The festival had already faced calls for a boycott, The Star reported. Some Maa leaders and service providers said artists, suppliers and traders were still owed money from earlier editions. Organisers rejected the claims and said they had paid what they owed. There were also calls for the government to compensate Samburu herders whose livestock died during a security operation.
During Saturday's event, KBC reported, Ruto commissioned the Ushanga-Curio Mall, a market for beads and other crafts. Tourism CS Rebecca Miano called festivals like this one powerful drivers of local and international tourism. The fourth edition of the festival ran from November 10 to 14.