The office of Deputy President William Ruto has written to the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai demanding answers over the recent replacement of security personnel manning the DP’s residences across the country.
On Thursday, General Service Unit (GSU) Officers manning Ruto’s homes in Karen, Sugoi and Elgon View in Eldoret were recalled and their place taken over by Administration Police (AP) officers who are deployed to man government buildings.
While defending the move, the IG through police spokesperson Bruno Shioso noted that the changes made were part of the reassignment of duties within the national police service.
"Today 26th August 2021 the security of government buildings unit (SGB) has been deployed to provide general security to the official residence of H.E Deputy President from General Service Unit," part of the statement read.
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IG Hillary Mutyambai. [Photo: Courtesy]
Unsatisfied by the explanation, the DP through his Chief of Staff Ken Osinde on Friday, August 26, 2021 wrote to the IG demanding a detailed explanation on the replacement of GSU with the AP officers.
According to Osinde, the decision to replace the GSU with APs is contrary to the Police Service Standing Orders Chapter 8 Section 5 (e) which states that “the GSU commandant shall be responsible for the security of the President, the Deputy President, State Houses and Lodges.”
“This office demands to know the reasons for the removal of the GSU mandated by law to guard the Deputy President’s residence... Which unlawful instructions to compromise the security of the Deputy President did the GSU decline to carry out to warrant their removal from guarding the Deputy President’s residence?
“Is it the case that suspicious persons in administration police uniform have been deployed at the residence with orders to facilitate sinister schemes against the Deputy President?, which the withdrawn GSU refused to implement?” Osinde posed.
Osinde further accused the IG of refusing to engage the DP on matters regarding his security, despite numerous pronouncements and actions that are perceived to threaten Ruto’s security.
“You have refused to act upon reports made to you on the implications of such remarks for the security, safety, and well-being of the Deputy President,” Osinde’s read letter read in part.
The DP’s office now wants GSU officers reinstated to his residence, adding that if anything happens to the Ruto or a member of his family, then they would hold the IG responsible.
