Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has defended Inspector General (IG) Douglas Kanja’s participation in President William Ruto’s development tour in the Mt Kenya region amid criticism.
In a statement on Friday, April 4, 2025, Mwaura emphasised that the president’s tour is not a political campaign but an initiative to engage directly with citizens and assess the government’s performance on the ground.
He clarified that during his address to local residents, Kanja focused solely on the president’s visit without delving into political party matters or competitive politics.
Mwaura further noted that the IG was performing his official duties, which include taking direct command of police operations when necessary, stating that the president is entitled to security coverage by the National Police Service (NPS), led by the IG.
“The president is not on a campaign tour. He is meeting the citizens who voted for him and getting first-hand information on how the government he heads is performing on the ground,” Mwaura said.
“The President is fully entitled to coverage by NPS, where the IG is the CEO, and when the IG addressed his villagers, he talked about Ruto’s visit, not about political parties or competitive politics.”
Mwaura further added that the IG was on duty and responsible for overseeing police operations as needed.
“The I.G. was fully on duty, and it is his responsibility to take direct command on any police duties/operations when he deems it necessary,” he added.
