Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, dismissed Deputy President William Ruto's claims that police reservists were withdrawn from his Rift Valley stronghold in a bid to punish him.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, July 27, Matiang'i termed the claims as untruthful and incorrect, affirming that reservists were still helping in ensuring security in the region was reinforced.
He explained that the deployment formula used is not only deployed by the Ministry of Interior but also relies on the risks in the targetted areas.
"There has never been a time we have withdrawn police reservists from the region or any other part of the country. What happens is reviews are done from time to time depending on what is needed in a particular area and most cases, consultations are done even with the local leaders.
"I have been in meetings where residents request us to reduce the number of guns in the hands of civilians while in some areas, they ask for deployments of reservists," Matiang'i stated.
He further hit out at Ruto for allegedly peddling lies at a national forum, adding that if he were committed to his duties, then he would have been abreast with the security situation in the region.
"It would be better if people did their job. If they attended the meetings they were supposed to attend, if they sought briefs from the people they are supposed to, they would have been given proper information instead of going to embarrass themselves in that kind of manner," the CS reiterated.
Ruto made the comments during the presidential debate where he claimed that he was at times forced to step in to guarantee Kenyans of their security.
“I have deployed my personal resources to deal with that situation because I know it was a political agenda, to punish William Ruto.
"Never mind that many people lost their lives, it is a real tragedy, but that is the nature of our politics in Kenya, unfortunately,” the UDA flagbearer claimed.
During his campaigns, Ruto has accused the police force of being used by the state to fight him and his allies. He alleged that the National Police Service was not independent but is controlled by the Office of the President.
However, the Interior boss warned Ruto against speaking ill of the men and women who are charged with providing security to Kenyans and even to himself.
