GSU officers form a protective cordon around President William Ruto at the festival in Narok.
Rival groups clash at Sekenani Gate in Narok, prompting media crews to leave the dais area before security officers secure the President.
Maa festival clashes briefly interrupted celebrations at Sekenani Gate in Narok County as President William Ruto arrived on Saturday, November 14.
The confrontation involved groups allegedly allied to Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo and Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu. It disrupted the Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival as Ruto approached the main venue.
Video footage showed people running around the grounds during the confrontation. Chairs flew near the dais, while others lay broken or scattered across the venue.
Some attendees also carried ceremonial Maasai rungus as the disturbance unfolded.
Security response follows Maa festival clashes
Journalists and media crews left their positions near the main dais as tensions escalated. They had set up broadcast and recording equipment in the area before the confrontation broke out.
Meanwhile, light showers fell over the Mara landscape during the disruption. The disturbance briefly halted the cultural gathering before the programme resumed moments later.
Officers from the Presidential Escort Unit and General Service Unit moved in to secure Ruto. Images and video footage showed GSU officers forming a cordon around the President after the confrontation.
The officers faced the crowd with rifles firmly in their hands, maintaining a protective ring around him.
