IG Kanja Assembles Team to Investigate Man Who Charged at Ruto in Wajir

The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has ordered an immediate inquiry into a security breach involving President William Ruto.

The incident occurred on Thursday in Wajir County during a public event. A team has been assembled to investigate the matter and must submit its findings within three days.

The National Police Service (NPS) announced the move via a press statement on social media. This investigation aims to identify "procedural gaps" that allowed the breach to happen. The police have promised to take immediate remedial measures based on the team’s report.

NPS Reassures the Public

Despite the optics of the Wajir breach, the NPS maintains that the President was never in real danger. The official statement noted that the Presidential Security Team acted with "utmost professionalism" to restore order.

"The NPS wishes to state unequivocally that at no time was the safety of His Excellency the President, other dignitaries, or members of the public compromised."

The three-day inquiry is expected to look into how a civilian managed to get so close to the President from behind the podium.

“The Inspector General of Police, Mr Douglas Kanja, has formed a team to conduct an inquiry into the matter within three days, to identify any procedural gaps that may have contributed to this breach, and to take immediate remedial measures,” part of the statement read.

Security analysts have noted that constant vigilance is vital during these high-profile tours. For now, the public awaits the findings of IG Kanja’s team to see what changes will be made to presidential protection protocols.

The Moment of the Breach

President Ruto was addressing a crowd at Wajir Stadium. He was there to launch the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) fund.

While he was speaking, a man in a white shirt and blue jeans suddenly emerged from behind the podium.

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The man charged towards the President, forcing security aides to intervene quickly. The President’s aide-de-camp and other officers wrestled the individual off the stage. Despite the chaos, President Ruto remained calm and asked his team to handle the man gently.

"Wacha akae hapo. Wacha arelax. Tutakutana na wewe, kaa hapo," President Ruto told his security team.

The President then continued his speech. Officers formed a human barricade to ensure the event could proceed without further interruption.

"I Just Wanted to Talk"

The man involved was later identified as Ahmed Muhumed, an aspirant for a Member of County Assembly (MCA) seat. After being apprehended, Muhumed spoke to the media about his actions. He claimed he had no intention of harming the President.

Muhumed explained that he only wanted to discuss his political ambitions with the Head of State. He appeared unaware of the seriousness of his actions and stated that he did not regret the move.

A Growing Pattern of Scares

This is the second security incident involving the President in less than a week.

Just six days earlier, a similar event took place in Mombasa. During a NYOTA event at the Jomo Kenyatta Showground, a man named Jeremiah ran towards the podium before being caught by the Presidential Security Unit.

These are not isolated events. In May last year, a shoe was thrown at the President during a rally in Migori County.

At the time, State House described that incident as a "moment that got out of hand".