The Presidential Escort Unit is tasked with ensuring security of the Commander in chief as well as that of the First Family. However, they are not exempted from being in the spotlight as some of their past actions have gone viral based on reasons deemed to be controversial.
President Uhuru's aides follow strict rules and receive instructions from the Presidential Escort Unit Commander. These rules bar them from indulging in certain acts that could be detrimental to the Office of the Head of State.
Kenyans.co.ke samples past controversies that surround Uhuru's security detail over the past few months.
Uhuru's Bodyguard Arrested at City Curfew Roadblock
On Sunday April 12, one of President Uhuru's bodyguards was arrested after allegedly causing a commotion at one of the roadblocks erected to bar movement.
The officer, who is also a superintendent, is reported to have argued with the head of the multi-agency team whose mandate was to oversee operations in the curbing of the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
He was, however, set free unconditionally early the next morning.
Major-General Ayub Matiri, the Commanding Officer of the National Command Centre for Covid-19, disclosed that security officers were the highest violators of the curfew during the two week period of the dusk to dawn curfew.
Uhuru's Bodyguards Tackle a Kajiado Politician during an Event
On October 5, 2019, Tarayia Ole Kores, found himself in the crosshairs when the presidential bodyguards allegedly manhandled him during an event.
The Kajiado politician allegedly tried to make his way to the presidential tent at the burial site of Daniel Ole Muyaa, to greet Uhuru but the guards blocked his efforts.
"Some female mourners were caught up in the confusion and could be seen gesturing the guards that Kores is a former County council chairman. The pleas fell on dead ears," a source revealed to Kenyans.co.ke in a past interview.
The altercation was however resolved as additional reports pointed out that the president interacted with the leaders and residents during the event.
President's Bodyguard's Fake Hand Raises Suspicions of Hidden Weapon
During the 2018 Jamhuri day celebrations, an image of President Uhuru Kenyatta interacting with the public caught the keen eye of netizens as his close protection detail was spotted with a left hand that many presumed was fake due to the distinguishable difference of colour from his right hand.
Netizens likened the situation to one where a secret service agent allegedly used a prosthetic arm to conceal a weapon during US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
A security expert dismissed the clams stating that nothing was off about Uhuru’s aide who he referred to by a code name ‘Oscar one’ and that the difference in skin tone was only as a result of the camera’s angle or that he had worn a glove.
Uhuru's Security Slaps Senator Kihika in Public
On August 14, 2019, a video went viral on social media platforms, as a lady believed to be a member of President Uhuru Kenyatta's security personnel was seen slapping Nakuru Senator, Susan Kihika, at a public function.
The cause of their altercation has, however, not been established.
It is alleged that the woman, who was dressed in civilian clothes, had confronted some of the lawmakers for carrying handbags. She cited that the bags posed security threats.
On seeing what had transpired with her colleague, Njoro MP Charity Kathambi was quick to comply with the security details' requests and handed in her bag for checking. On the other hand, Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara was asked to step aside so that her bag would be checked.
It was reported that a majority of the MCA's were also ordered out of line to avoid crowding, at the place where the commander in chief would be received.
