A video showing President William Ruto's security personnel forcefully taking away a woman's phone during a trade fair at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi has sparked wild reactions.
The widely shared video showed the Head of State inspecting an exhibition by a group of Rwandese at the ground. The video depicted one woman conversing with Ruto while another recorded the talks at close range.
In the incident which took place on Tuesday, November 11, the woman was recording Ruto at close range when a male bodyguard quickly approached her and grabbed the phone from her hands.
Those who stood around the woman were left in shock as they witnessed the security officer walk away with the phone. Despite the incident taking place near Ruto, the Head of State remained rather unbothered by it.
The one-minute clip has since sparked debate, with online users divided over the security officer’s actions. While some defended the woman, others sided with the security officer.
Critics were quick to condemn the act, describing it as a blatant violation of the woman's rights. Those who defended the security officers lauded him, accusing the woman of allegedly breaching security protocol.
"She went out of protocol; the security officer just did the right thing by putting things in order," said an online user, while another commented, "Sorry for the woman, but we must respect the protocols."
However, an online user who was in support of the woman commented, "Is this the Bottom-up model he promised us? So will they return the phone to her?"
During the whole event attended by other senior government officials, including the Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Ruto avoided handshakes with the attendees.
Such incidents of President Ruto's security protocol breaches are not familiar in Kenya. In May this year, a Nairobi woman found herself on the receiving end after reportedly attempting to drag Ruto during a handshake.
Footage obtained online by Kenyans.co.ke showed the woman reaching out to greet the President shortly after he arrived at a crowded event in Kibera on May 23.
As the woman stretched out her hand to greet him, one of Ruto’s bodyguards quickly stepped in and tried to push her away. During that moment, the woman had not let go of the President’s hand, causing him to lose balance.
