The government on Tuesday, July 18, reportedly withdrew the security detail of the former first lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta, just hours before the planned three-day anti-government protests.
The Interior Ministry and the National Police Service have not released a statement over the withdrawal of Ngina's security, but observers believe it is a move to pressure the former first lady to intervene in the current political impasse.
Reports indicate that the state recalled the over 30 General Service Unit and Administration Police (AP) without Mama Ngina's knowledge, just moments after traders had indicated that they would march to her homes.
Mama Ngina has not been seen in public since April 20, when she was pictured with Field Marshall Muthomi Kirimi in her Muthaiga home.
Mama Ngina Kenya, who was the spouse of Kenya's first president and the mother of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, has homes in Muthaiga and Ichaweri in Gatundu.
She is the matriarch of one of the largest family business empires in the country with interests cutting across many sectors.
The Kenyattas have a vast empire that includes a milk processing business, hospitality, schools, and huge tracts of land spread across the country.
The withdrawal came hours after a section of Nairobi's business community threatened to march to her home and plead with her over the demos.
"Some of our traders will not work for three days straight so how will we earn a living? That is why we will march to her home and we appeal to the police for protection," the traders stated.
In 2022, her security was also scaled down with a senior sergeant leading the team.
She was among the high-profile individuals to lose their security team ahead of the three-day protests announced by the opposition starting Wednesday, July 19 to Friday, July 21.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka also lost their security. The opposition complained that this was against the law demanding the government to respect the Constitution.
