Changes in DP William Ruto's Security Detail

Deputy President William Ruto walking past his vehicle
Deputy President William Ruto walking past his vehicle
Twitter

UPDATE: Thursday, August 26, 5 pm: Deputy President William Ruto's supporters have camped at Eldoret home, Uasin Gishu after it emerged his security had been withdrawn. 

A video seen by Kenyans.co.ke showed over 100 youth, many of them boda boda operators lining up at his Elgon View residence where they sought to provide extra security. 

Other villagers are reported to have been heading to his rural home in Sugoi for a similar operation. 


Youth outside DP William Ruto's Residence in Eldoret on Thursday, August 26, 2021
Youth outside DP William Ruto's Residence in Eldoret on Thursday, August 26, 2021
Facebook

Changes have been effected in Deputy President William Ruto's security detail with the General Service Unit (GSU) guards being withdrawn and replaced with Administration Police (AP) officers. 

Sources privy to the changes on Thursday, August 26, told Kenyans.co.ke that the number of security officers deployed to guard his Karen residence and his rural home in Eldoret has been reduced significantly.

The source, who requested anonymity, intimated that the changes are part of the routine adjustments by the government.

Some of the security officers recalled from the DP's security detail will be re-deployed for other assignments. 

A video shared online, however, shows normal activities by General Service Unit (GSU) officers at the DP's Karen residence.

Kapseret Member of Parliament, Oscar Sudi, announced on Facebook that the DP's security had been withdrawn from his Karen residence and his Sugoi home.

He blamed President Uhuru Kenyatta and Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, for the changes.

"President Uhuru Kenyatta is a very petty President, but CS Matiang'i is the pettiest of all. The duo have just ordered withdrawal of all security officers manning Sugoi, Elgon View home, Karen Residence, and all other premises linked to DP Ruto," Sudi stated in a post on his Facebook account.

Nominated Senator, Millicent Omanga, also chimed in calling out the state for the changes made on the DP's security detail.

The Senator wondered why the DP's security was altered days after the President asked him to resign if he was not satisfied with how he was running the government.

New security detail arriving at DP William Ruto's Karen residence on August 26, 2021
New security detail arriving at DP William Ruto's Karen residence on August 26, 2021
KBC

"DP Ruto's security has been withdrawn few days after the President asked him to resign. So we have sunk this low?" she posed.

This comes in the backdrop of growing tension between the President and his deputy, with the Head of State accusing the latter of antagonizing the country's quest for unity.

Speaking to media editors on Monday, August 23, the President said the move by his deputy to create a rift between Kenyans has largely resulted in him (Ruto) being left out of the meetings between the Head of State and the opposition led by the Orange Democratic Movement leader, Raila Odinga.

The President stated that it would be of no importance to invite his deputy to a unity meeting, arguing that Ruto has been opposed to the unity agenda as enshrined in the Building Bridges Initiative which was declared unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal of Friday, August 20.

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