DP Ruto has 257 police officers for security

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 1 –Deputy President William Ruto has 257 police officers deployed to guard him, the government has revealed.

The revelation was made on Wednesday by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi when he appeared before a parliamentary security committee to explain why General Service Unit (GSU) officers were withdrawn from Ruto’s residences and replaced by Administration Police officers.

Matiangi told a parliamentary committee on security on Wednesday that Ruto retained his close protection unit comprised of Presidential Escort Unit with a total of 74 officers.

“The Ministry categorically refutes the allegations and regards them as irresponsible and misleading,” the CS submitted before the National Assembly departmental committee on National Administration and Security.

He said the second layer of security comprising of GSU was changed to Administration Police after consultations among national security agencies.

Matiangi said a total of 257 officers guard installations of interest to the Deputy President including a hanger at Wilson airport and his farms.

He said Ruto’s security detail which has three layers, the first layer compromises of 74 Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) officers, 5 General Service Unit (GSU) officers and 6 Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers.

The second layer has 121 Administration Police officers spread across the country and supported by mobile patrols by local police stations.

The third layer has 51 officers who have been posted in various Ruto’s properties.

Properties listed include Weston Hotel which has four officers, Dolphine Hotel in Mombasa which has six officers, Koitalel Poultry Farm in Eldoret which has four officers among others.

Matiangi said Ruto was by far more protected in comparison to previous Vice Presidents from the time of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who he revealed only had 30 officers.

“We always comply when the office of the Deputy President asks for more officers because we cannot risk anything and later be subjected to the fury of Kenyans when something happens,” he said.