GSU officers seen here at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport; a special Recce squad is deployed to the President and his Deputy’s homes. Photo/FILE.
NAIROBI, Kenya July 29 – A General Service Unit officer was on Saturday shot and seriously injured during an attack at the home of Deputy President William Ruto in Sugoi, security sources said of the incident comes less less than two weeks before the country votes in high-stakes polls.
The officer’s gun was also stolen during the attack that occurred shortly after the DP left for Kitale for a rally with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“There are armed people who staged the attack and have shot the GSU officer and stolen his gun,” a security official said, but was uncomfortable being named because he is not authorized to brief journalists on matters touching on the DP’s security or his home.
Ruto’s Spokesman David Mugonyi declined to comment on the matter and there was no immediate statement from police.
“The incident indeed happened and security has been beefed up at the home,” a senior police source told Capital FM News, “security has been beefed up at the home but no arrest has been made.”
Security forces are trying to establish if there are still attackers in the deputy president’s “expansive” home near the town of Eldoret, some 312 kilometres (194 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi, a senior police officer said.
Ruto is the second most guarded government official in the country after President Uhuru Kenyatta and their homes are usually under 24-hour watch by the elite Recce Squad of the GSU.
Ruto’s running mate President Uhuru Kenyatta faces a tight re-election contest on August 8 against longtime opposition leader Raila Odinga.
About The Author
