By Bonface Mulyungi

A security scare unfolded in Kilifi County on Sunday after a man breached security and charged towards President William Ruto while he was addressing a public gathering in Ganze.

The incident, which played out in full glare of cameras, saw the man make his way to the podium as Ruto was delivering his speech during the thanksgiving ceremony of Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs.

Amid the chaos, Ruto, who was clearly shaken by the whole ordeal, nearly lost his balance as the podium intruder was roughly taken away by security.

In the commotion, Ruto nearly lost his footing as he also shrugged off the man who had grabbed his shoulder.

He urged his security team to ease up on the intruder, who had already been subdued by officers.

At one point, Ruto was heard telling the security personnel, “Leave that young man alone.”

Moments after the incident, a visibly shaken Ruto attempted to play down the incident, insisting the incident was nothing to worry about.

“That young man has no problem. I think he learned from Fikirini Jacobs not to miss any opportunity. I will deal with him later,” Ruto said in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

According to reports, the man was carrying a Bible when he approached the President. Security personnel quickly subdued and removed him from the scene as the Head of State momentarily paused his address.

The President, however, proceeded with his engagements after calm was restored.

The latest scare has once again raised concerns over presidential security arrangements during public rallies and open-air engagements.

The latest incident comes three months after Ruto experienced a similar ordeal in Wajir County.

On February 12, Ruto was in Wajir for the disbursement of Nyota funds, startup capital, when the incident occurred.

The young man came from the right side of the podium, approaching from Ruto’s blind side as the Head of State addressed the crowd.

However, Ruto’s security team sprang into action, tackling the man before reaching the most protected man in the country.

Six days earlier, on February 6, while in Mombasa, an unidentified man ran onto the podium while the President was speaking, but Ruto intervened and urged his security detail to let the man speak.

In May 2025, the head of state narrowly escaped a shoe aimed at his head, blocking it with his arm while addressing a rally in Migori County.

Following the Migori incident, Ruto’s security detail was reportedly revamped and enhanced.