This archive report was first published on 19 August 2019.
On August 10, 2019, in Baringo County, Deputy President William Ruto was caught on camera shooing off journalists who were covering the Ilchamus traditional wedding ceremony, an event he presided over.
Just days after this incident, an audio recording has emerged of someone who sounds like the Deputy President chasing away journalists, telling them to leave and asking them to move back to give the crowd a clear view of the speakers.
“Bado tuko na watu ya magazeti? Watu ya magazeti mnafanya nini hapa? Toeni hii maTV yenu hapa. Mnatufwata mpaka usiku? Tokeni hapa!” the speaker in the audio clip says.
The audio has raised questions about the Deputy President's treatment of the press, particularly in light of his previous confrontation with journalists at the same event.
According to journalists who covered the event, the DP’s security personnel pushed and roughed them up, leaving only those working with the Deputy President’s Press Service.
It is worth noting that the authenticity of the audio recording has not been confirmed, and it is unclear when and where the recording was made.
