Residents of Bomet County have agreed to temporarily halt planned protests over the alleged embezzlement of county funds.

According to the organisers, the suspension is to avoid interfering with the ongoing KCSE examinations.

“The public should be aware that a decision has been taken to temporarily postpone peaceful protests against corrupt people in the county,” said Diaz Kimutai, a youth leader.

Speaking to the media in Bomet town, Kimutai said he made the decision following consultations with education officials, teachers’ unions, clergy, school principals and the parents’ association.

Calling for patience among residents, Kimutai said they would soon announce another day for the protests.

He also dispelled rumors that the youth could have been compromised by the county leadership to stop the demonstrations.

“This decision has been taken to respect the ongoing national examinations, we do not want the national exercise to be disrupted in any way,” he said.

Demonstrations at the county level had been scheduled for November 6.

The county was on the scene for the alleged embezzlement of public funds through fraudulent payments by senior officials.

It is assumed that the county lost 1.2 billion lei.

The matter is currently before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

EACC officers raided the homes and offices of top county officials last month over an alleged corruption scandal.

Plainclothes officers arrived at the officials’ homes and seized documents before moving to county headquarters for another search.

On Thursday, Kimutai added that they will remain focused in the war against corruption, especially in the devolved local unit.

“We applaud the EACC for the action taken so far on the numerous summonses issued so far,” he said.

He also called for the immediate resignation of those mentioned negatively by the County Assembly, EACC and other government bodies.

For her part, Vitaline Cherotich, another youth leader, urged the DCI to investigate pending invoices and forgeries in some county departments.

“We request the public to come out strongly in large numbers at the upcoming protests as it is the civil authority to demand what belongs to them,” she noted.

Last week, at least eight senior county officials were arrested by EACC officials.

They recorded their statements regarding the alleged loss of public money.