Man who ran towards Ruto: I just wanted to greet him

A man who ran towards President William Ruto as he was making a speech in Wajir has spoken out, giving his account of what transpired.

In a video seen by the Star, the man said he had no ill intentions and that he simply wanted to speak to the President about his political ambitions.

“Mimi nilitaka kuongea na Rais kwa sababu nasimama kiti ya MCA huko kwetu,” the man said.

“That was the time the president was summarising his speech, and I just wanted to greet him, and I didn’t know that my actions would cause trouble. I am hopeful that I will see him.”

According to the man, he fell on the carpet before the President and was carried away

The incident occurred as the Head of State was addressing beneficiaries of the Nyota Fund in Mandera when the unidentified man emerged from the crowd and rushed towards the stage.

Security officers quickly intervened, restraining and whisking him away, momentarily disrupting the President’s remarks.

However, President Ruto intervened, calling on his security detail to handle the situation calmly.

“Eei, so sorry, leave him alone, let him relax there. He should sit down somewhere there, and I will see him later,” the President said, signalling to the officers to ease their response.

The event proceeded without further interruption.

On February 6, a similar security scare occurred in Mombasa when another unidentified man ran towards Ruto as he addressed beneficiaries of the Nyota youth empowerment programme.

The incident happened at the Jomo Kenyatta Showground, where Ruto was presiding over the disbursement of Sh147 million in Nyota business start-up capital to 5,880 young entrepreneurs from Mombasa, Kwale and Taita-Taveta counties.

The President was engaging the crowd from the podium when he posed a casual question, asking, “Wapi mtu wa mwisho hapa (where is the last person)?”

Moments later, a man suddenly emerged from the crowd and ran towards the dais, catching security officers off guard.

As he approached the podium, security aides quickly moved in to restrain him.

However, Ruto intervened, telling one of the officers, “Habari yako boss, wachana naye,” urging them to momentarily let the man speak.

In a light-hearted exchange that drew laughter from the audience, the President asked the man his name.

“Unaitwa nani?” Ruto asked.

“Naitwa Jeremiah,” the man responded.

“Very good, Jeremiah,” the President said, jokingly adding, “Naona umeweka box,” in apparent reference to the man’s hairstyle.

Ruto then asked about his shoes, saying, “Viatu imepotea wapi?”

“Nimeziwacha,” Jeremiah replied, prompting laughter from the President and the crowd.

Ruto laughed and urged him to speak, saying, “Sasa sema, Jeremiah.”

As the man attempted to explain himself, he began, “Sasa Your Excellency, mimi ni...” before the President interjected, asking, “Kwanza umetoka wapi (where have you come from)?”

He told the President he had travelled from Nairobi, adding that he had followed him to various towns.

“Mimi nimetoka Nairobi. Nimekuwa nawe Kisumu, nimekuwa nawe Nakuru (I have come from Nairobi. I have been with you in Kisumu and Nakuru),” he said.

The President then sought to establish whether the man was a beneficiary of the programme, asking, “Kwanza leo wewe ni mtu wa NYOTA hapa?”

“Mimi sio mtu wa NYOTA hapa (I am not a beneficiary),” Jeremiah admitted.

At that point, the President told him to wait.

“Sasa wewe utangoja kidogo, wacha nimalizane na hawa, tutashughulika na wewe (You will wait a little. Let me finish with these people first, then we will handle your case),” he said.

Another security aide then calmly escorted the man away from the podium.