NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 1- In a shocking revelation, it has now emerged that Kenya’s Deputy President has been allocated 257 police officers, some of them an elite squad from the General Service Unit, to protect him, his family, and property.
This was laid bare by Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i on Wednesday, while in the company of all top security officers led by Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai.
Matiang’i and the security officers had honoured summons by the National Security Committee of the National Assembly.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary further detailed all of DP Ruto’s private property and the number of security officers assigned to them.
“Apart from the 74 presidential escort security officers assigned to DP, he has many other security personnel provided to him in total numbering to 257. We have provided sufficient security to the holder of the office of the Deputy President,” the Interior Cabinet Secretary said.
At least 4,000 security officers are dedicated to the protection of those classified as Very Important Persons (VIPs) or VVIPS in the country.
Many according to police come from the Security of Government Building Unit (SGB) formation which looks after government buildings,installations or what police refer to as the Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU).
“The protection of the president and deputy president is a separate matter. I want to be on record on this matter, the president and DP are protected by a special formation we call the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) ..this unit is trained, prepared and their singular responsibility is to protect the president and the deputy president,” Said Matiang’i.
Matiang’i termed the Deputy president’s security set up as a multi-layered endevour. The first layer, also known as the inner layer, which is said to be the most critical is under the commander of a commissioner of police.
Others in the first layer include: one senior superintendent (SSP), 2 Chief Inspectors, 74 Presidential Escort Unit officers (PEU), 5 General Service Unit (GSU) officers who double up as drivers and Body guards and 6 Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers.
The second layer, also known as the Outer security layer consists of 121 Administration Police officers (AP) consisting of officers from the Security of Government Building Unit (SGB) and the Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU).
This layer also consists of a 24-hour patrol by a team led by the local sub county police commander.
The third and final security layer also known as the auxiliary security layer consists of 51 security officers spread across the deputy president’s various properties.
“I am not aware of anything in the past or present that has come close to threaten the office of the holder of the deputy president of Kenya. We have very highly trained personnel in the security sector, we take this as a very fundamental duty and responsibility because, it snot just a matter of national security but also a matter of national pride. If the security of the number two in command is an issue of concern then it means we are a bunch of jokers and there is nothing we are doing,”
Matiang’i however says the number of security officers guarding DP Ruto’s properties could be even high as he only made public 10 properties listed to his name. They include: Kitengela Gas, Weston Hotel along Lang’ata Road in Nairobi, Murumbi Farm – Transmara Narok (LR.Transmara/INTONA/34) which sits on 395 hectares.
ADC Laikipia Mutara Ranch (LR.No 10069/1) – which sits on 6,073 hectares, Dolphine Hotel (LR.N0.MN/1/3266) in Mombasa County which sits on 3 hectares, Mata Farm in Taita Taveta (LR.No10287/10&11) which sits on 2,537 hectares,a private residence in Elgon in Eldoret, Koitalele Poultry Farm in Eldoret, Private residence in Kosachei in Eldoret and Kwae Island Development Ltd.- Wilson Airport (2 hangers and 5 helicopters).
“Most of the debate about this and anyone you hear speaking about downgrading definitely displays a measure of very frustrating ignorance…for example the IG has over 13 other police units,that he could draw from in providing support to the deputy president’s security. People do not understand entirety the formation of the police service and don’t understand the strengthen and capacity we have and the training of all the other formations.” he said.
There have been safety concerns of the security of DP Ruto, after several General Service Unit officers manning his private and official residence were replaced with those from the Security of Government Buildings Unit, from the Administration Police Service.
This sparked a major outcry by Ruto’s political allies, who linked it to their political differences with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“The decision has been made contrary to the police service standing orders,” reads the letter to the IG, written by the Office of the Deputy President Chief of Staff, Amb. Ken Osinde.
“At this stage, no explanation has been offered for the strange and unlawful decision. The decision has been made contrary to the Police Service Standing Orders, Chapter 8 Section 5 (e), that the GSU Commandant shall be responsible for the President, Deputy President, State Houses, and lodges.”
In the letter, Osinde terms the deployment of Administration Police officers as suspicious, saying the move is laced with illegality and fraud.
“This office demands the reinstatement of the GSU as provided by law to continue their lawful mandate at the Deputy President’s residences.
In a change of tune on Tuesday, DP Ruto in a Tweet said the debate on his security should be settled once and for all, saying parliamentary time should not be wasted on non-issues.
“The AP is a professional security service and those who think it’s a downgrade are wrong. Parliament should instead focus on deployment to serious security situations in areas where bandits are causing mayhem and destruction,” reads the Tweet.
CS Matiangi allayed fears that there was no cause of worry over DP Ruto’s security.
“The problem with our country is that some people suffer from sympathy addiction. They’re always looking for opportunities to lament about this and that to attract sympathies. We in the security sector make decisions after serious considerations knowing we will be held accountable,” he said further reiterating that, “as for the re-arrangement do not talk about withdrawal ,there was not withdrawal, its a rearrangement of the second layer of security by the inspector general of police,”
But why the many numbers of security officers to one individual, in a country with less than 100,000 police officers?
“There’s an overlap between business and public service. If you are the IG and you receive a request to deploy security to private business from a VVIP, it becomes very difficult to say No. We need statutory action to curb the possibility of misuse of security personnel provision,” Matiangi explained.
The Cabinet Secretary urged Parliament to come up with legislation that places a cap on the number of officers government officials should be allocated.
“We need to be guided so that we avoid scenarios where we are being requested to go and guard kiosks and butcheries,” he said.
The revelation sparked a wide range of reactions from Kenyans on Twitter, on the independence of the police service.
Compared to other vice presidents in Kenya’s history Ruto is on record as the most guarded with a security personnel of 257 according to documents presented by Matiang’i from police records.
The country’s founding vice president Jaramogi Oginga Odinga had a security detail consisting of 30 officers,Joseph Murumbi,Josephat Karanja,Musalia Mudavadi,Michael Kijana Wamalwa and Moody Awori were protected by 22 security officers.
Daniel Moi had at least 34, Mwai Kibaki had 26, Prof. George Saitoti had 30,Kalonzo Musyoka had 26 while former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had a security personnel consisting of 57 officers.
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