Heavily armed security officers have ringed President William Ruto and the main dais at the Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival in Narok West, as organisers have appealed for calm and the programme has finally got underway after an earlier confrontation has shaken the grand finale.
The details have emerged from several sources. Citizen TV Kenya has reported on its verified Facebook page that the festival has been left in disarray following a fierce clash between two rival groups at Sekenani Gate, while the President’s own live broadcast from the venue has shown the proceedings resuming under a visibly tighter security cordon.
The change in atmosphere has been hard to miss. Officers in camouflage and red berets have taken up positions at the front of the stage, rifles in hand, scanning the crowd as the programme has moved forward.
Elders and leaders have gathered around the President, and guests seated nearby have remained under close watch.
Not far from the dais, the overturned chairs that have marked the earlier scuffle have been a reminder of how quickly the mood has shifted.
Organisers have wasted no time in trying to settle nerves. They have urged the crowd to remain peaceful and to let the day end on the note it has been meant to strike, that of cultural pride and unity.
Several leaders have echoed the appeal from the stage, and the response from the audience has been gradually positive, with many people returning to their seats.
It has not yet been established what has set off the earlier clash. The authorities have not named the groups involved, and there has been no official word on whether anyone has been injured or taken into custody.
Kenyans who have followed the live feed have filled the comments section, with many asking how the disagreement has grown so fast at a gathering meant to celebrate heritage.
The festival has been staged at one of the best-known gateways to the Maasai Mara and has drawn visitors, traders and families from across the region.
Its organisers have hoped to use the occasion to promote tourism and highlight the community’s concerns about fairness and recognition.
That message has now been overshadowed, at least for the moment, by the question of security.
The President is expected to address the gathering, and police have yet to issue a formal statement. This story is developing, and more details will follow as officials have spoken.