Deputy President William Ruto has downplayed the security detail changes saying it is ‘a small matter’ which should not keep the country in a state of quarrel.
The government last week withdrew General Service Unit (GSU) officers manning Ruto’s residence and replaced them with Administration Police officers.
Speaking during a church service in Nakuru, Ruto maintained that he is comfortable with any security detail assigned to man his residence.
“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.
However, Member of Parliament (MPs) allied to Ruto want the National Assembly and the Senate to summon Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai and GSU commandant to explain the security detail saga.
Nandi Senator Samson Cheregai plans 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.
Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika castigated the decision by the government saying DP’s allies must address the intentions of the changes.
She added that the law is clear, the DP is entitled to GSU security and not AP.
She demanded the Directorate of Criminal Investigations summons Central Organisations of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli following his remarks that Ruto will not be in the ballot box next year.
On resigning, Ruto said he will leave the government when his term ends, adding that he has still not fulfilled all the promises made.
He said it would be a cowardly act and betrayal to the millions of people who voted for him in the 2013 and 2017 elections.
On Friday, Atwoli denounced the withdrawal of GSU officers from Ruto’s Karen residence.
According to Atwoli, if the government was to change the security they would have formally notified the DP.
“What they should normally do is that they will come and discuss with you and tell you ‘we are trying to change these officers for this reason’…. You should not come home and find new faces in your home. You might even run away from that home,” he said.
Narok West Member of Parliament Gabriel Tongoyo and his Narok East counterpart Ken Aramat also strongly condemned the withdraw of GSU officers from all Ruto’s residences.
The leaders say the government must provide detailed explanation on the change of guard and prove without a shadow of doubt that the move was not politically instigated.
