Ruto exposed: Poor planning or ethnic favours that leave out the best?

The incident last Sunday in Kilifi where a man managed to breach the presidential perimetre and reached President William Ruto during a church service and even put his hand around the back of his neck has generated intense debate both within security circles and the political scene amid questions over the level of security he enjoys.

The president even had time to start a conversation with the man, who was carrying a bible before his security team rushed and took him away.

Presidential functions anywhere in the world are the most protected with a dedicated team, in this case the Presidential Escort Unit, taking overall teams with support from other units and the intelligence community.

What has worried many people, including Inspector General of the National Police Service Police Douglas Kanja, is that was the fourth incident to take place in recent times, the other most dramatic being in February when a man dashed from the crowd in Wajir heading to where Ruto was addressing them but quick action by a presidential guard thwarted his mission.

Others include an incident where a shoe was thrown at Ruto in Migori in May 2025 and a water bottle hurled at him in Soweto, Kibra, on April 26 and 28, 2026.

In the wake of the Kilifi incident, experts now say that the focus should not be on what could have happened had the man been armed with a knife or if he was a suicide bomber seeking to harm or assassinate the president but what went wrong beforehand.

Ordinarily, before the president, advance teams from the elite Israel-trained Recce Unit and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and to gather threat intelligence before advising the PEU command on whether or not it is safe for him to travel.

On the day of travel, the Recce Unit officers and NIS agents are joined by more colleagues, including the PEU and uniformed officers.

According to the experts, the security teams surrounding the President are deployed in four layers with the uniformed officers forming the first layers to control crowds, the second and third is tasked to shield him with the Recce Unit forming the last layer to evacuate him in the event of danger.

In the US, the advance teams work to identify and monitor individuals who pose a threat to the president. They also map out escape routes, secure local hospitals, coordinate with local law enforcement, and vet the venue.

On the other hand, counter-intelligence agents and snipers are deployed to monitor the surrounding areas, including rooftops and high vantage points, to identify and neutralise potential long-range threats.

Before the President arrives, the Secret Service undertake extensive security scans, which involves establishing secure perimetres, deploying magnetometers, and inspecting all individuals and bags.

However, while no Kenyan president has faced mortal danger, four US presidents have been assassinated while in office, beginning with Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy, leading to the highest level of security accorded to their president.

And unlike in Kenya, where presidential guards rush to stop those who have breached security or even reached the podium, like in Kilifi, in the US, the Presidential Protection Division (PPD) surrounds the President with a physical wall of agents. They are trained to immediately throw themselves over the President or evacuate them to an armored vehicle or secure location at the first sign of danger.

The intensified security measures, however, have not, however, stopped at least two assassination attempts on President Donald Trump, who was also shot in the ear in 2024 during a campaign rally in Pennyslavia by a man who had sneaked in and gained access to a nearby rooftop, leading to why it had been left unguarded.

Amid concerns over the increasing cases of security breaches at Ruto functions, Kanja moved to change the PEU leadership with its commander Noel Maiyo being redeployed to Vigilance House and replaced by Recce Unit commander William Sagwe. His place has been taken over by Josephat Sirma.

Kanja also formed a team to probe the incident even as it emerged that a similar one was conducted after the Wajir one but instead of the recommended overhaul, only minor changes were done.

Kenyans hope the new probe will yield tangible results, including on how the planning was done, and that they will be implemented to ensure the security of not just Ruto but other future president.

There is also need to address concerns raised by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that only officers are allowed to offer close quarter protection to the president as it comes with huge travel perks, which he said has resulted in “self-entitlement” amid demoralisation among colleagues exposing him to threats. This especially as the country experiences a charged political season.