By Bonface Mulyungi

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja ordered immediate changes to the security team guarding President William Samoei Ruto following a security breach during a public event in Ganze on Saturday.

Kanja termed the incident a serious security lapse and a matter of “gravest national concern”.

The breach occurred on May 24, 2026, during a Thanksgiving gathering where Ruto was addressing members of the public in Ganze.

A young man breached security and approached President William Ruto while he was delivering a public address during a Thanksgiving ceremony held in honour of Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs.

The unexpected intrusion caused a moment of confusion, forcing Ruto to abruptly pause his remarks as members of his security detail quickly moved in to restrain the man and escort him away from the stage.

Despite the tense moment, Ruto urged his security personnel not to mistreat the young man.

“Leave that young man alone,” the President said as officers led the man away.

Moments later, Ruto sought to calm the crowd insisting there was no cause for concern.

“That young man has no problem. I think he learnt from Fikirini Jacobs not to miss any opportunity. I will deal with him later,” he told the audience, drawing laughter from sections of the crowd.

The motive behind the man’s actions was not immediately established, and authorities had not issued an official statement on the incident by Sunday evening.

Although security officers managed to swiftly contain the situation and restore order, Kanja said any compromise involving the president’s security was unacceptable.

The inspector general announced the formation of a special investigations team to conduct a comprehensive probe into how the breach happened. He said the immediate restructuring of the president’s security detail was aimed at strengthening operational protocols and sealing any existing vulnerabilities.

“The security of the Head of State is a matter of national security and will be treated with the utmost seriousness,” Kanja said.

He also warned members of the public attending presidential events to strictly follow security procedures, adding that any attempts to breach security arrangements would be dealt with firmly under the law.

The National Police Service maintained that it remains committed to protecting the country’s leadership and ensuring similar incidents do not recur.

The incident has triggered planned changes in the Presidential Escort Unit. Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Noah Maiyo is the Presidential Escort Unit Commandant.

The president also has the Presidential Escort Unit, which is a fully fledged team that can handle the movement of the president and his family at any time. They, however, usually get help from the local police whenever the president visits an area.

Together with his family, the president has about 200 security guards from the GSU. As part of security measures, they do not allow armed police officers, especially those carrying rifles, at events apart from members of the unit.

Whenever the president moves, the local police commander has to ensure the movement is guarded. If he stops to address a gathering, tens of local officers are deployed.

The president enjoys the services of some of the best police officers, who are drawn from various units and trained under a common command structure.

Apart from police officers, officials from the National Intelligence Service also provide crucial security services to the president.

The Kilifi incident is not the first time that President Ruto has experienced a security scare.

In February, a brief security incident occurred in Mombasa when an unidentified man ran towards President Ruto as he addressed beneficiaries of the Nyota youth empowerment programme.

The incident occurred at the Jomo Kenyatta Showground, where Ruto was presiding over the disbursement of Sh147 million in NYOTA business start-up capital to 5,880 young entrepreneurs drawn from Mombasa, Kwale and Taita-Taveta counties.

The President was engaging the crowd from the podium when he posed a casual question to the audience, asking, “Wapi mtu wa mwisho hapa (Where is the last person)?” 

Moments later, a man suddenly emerged from the crowd and ran towards the dais, catching security officers off guard.

As the man approached the podium, security aides quickly moved in to restrain him. 

However, Ruto intervened, telling one of the officers, “Habari yako boss, wachana naye,” urging them to momentarily let the man speak.

In a light-hearted exchange that drew laughter from the audience, the President asked the man his name.

“Unaitwa nani?” Ruto asked.

“Naitwa Jeremiah,” the man responded.

“Very good, Jeremiah,” the President said, jokingly adding, “Naona umeweka box,” in apparent reference to the man’s hairstyle. 

Ruto then asked him about his shoes, saying, “Viatu imepotea wapi?”

“Nimeziwacha”, Jeremiah replied, prompting laughter from the President and the crowd.

Ruto laughed and urged him to speak, saying, “Sasa sema Jeremiah.” 

As the man attempted to explain himself, he began, “Sasa your excellency, mimi ni…” before the President interjected, asking, “Kwanza umetoka wapi (where have you come from)?”