At least three people have been arrested after a shoe was thrown at Kenyan president William Ruto on Sunday, local media report.
President Ruto was addressing a rally when he was targeted with a shoe which struck his left arm.
Footage of the incident has gone viral on social media showing the Kenyan leader addressing the rally in Migori county during a tour of western Kenya to launch development projects.
At some stage he was holding the footwear while talking, restraining his aides from taking action.
Isaac Mwaura who is the Kenyan government spokesperson condemned the incident.
Writing on X Mwaura said: “What would happen if we all decided to throw shoes at each other? What values are we teaching our children?”.
Many say the incident signifies growing frustration with the torrid economic times in Kenya where rising prices have left consumers struggling to keep up.
Sunday’s incident coincided with a national discourse over the safety of public officials after the assassination of MP Charles Charles Ong’ondo Were who was shot dead in Nairobi on Wednesday evening.
One of the gunmen on a motorcycle shot him at point blank range as he was in his car which was trailed by Were’s attackers moments before the shooting along the busy Ngong Road which is rigged with security cameras.
According to the Kenyan police, the MP may have been the victim of a premeditated assassination.
“The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and predetermined,” police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said.
WN/as/APA