Deputy President William Ruto has said parliamentary time should not be wasted on non-issues.
Reacting to an article from local daily that stated, Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to meet Member of Parliaments on Ruto’s guard, the DP said that Administration Police is a professional security service and those who think its a down grade are wrong.
“Parliament should instead focus on deployment to serious security situations in areas where bandits are causing mayhem and destruction,” tweeted Ruto.
The government last week withdrew General Service Unit (GSU) officers manning Ruto’s residence and replaced them with AP officers.
This made the Committee on Administration and National Security of the National Assembly summon Matiang’i and the country’s security chiefs.
Nandi Senator Samson Cheregai had planned to submit a letter to Speaker Ken Lusaka to petition the Senate to form a special sitting to discuss the change of the DP’s security detail.
Cheregei said that it is an issue of national importance since the Constitution is clear on the manner in which the President and the DP should be protected.
“This is an issue of national importance, and I hope the speaker will convene a special sitting. National security organs are subject to the oversight of Parliament,” said Cherargei.
However, speaking at a church service on Sunday, Ruto said the nation should not waste a lot of time debating the issue terming it inconsequential.
The DP stated that he does not mind even being guarded by G4S officers saying GSU officers should protect Kenyans and the country at large hence if that is the purpose for which they were redeployed then he has no problem.
“I have no problem if the AP officers are deployed to guard my residence. If there is an assignment that requires the deployment of GSU so that other Kenyans can get security, such as those that are being disrupted by cattle rustlers, or other criminals, then GSU can go and help them, the AP can be of assistance in my residence,” he said.
Ruto yesterday officially welcomed his new security team at his official residence in Karen.
After a few minutes of being briefed, they were taken to the field where they sat and took tea.
“Sharing a cup of tea with the new security team as I welcome them to the official residence of the Deputy President,” he tweeted.