Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Eliud Lagat.A dramatic security breach involving President William Ruto in Kilifi has triggered sweeping changes within Kenya’s most elite police units, shaking up the command structure of officers tasked with protecting the Head of State.
The changes, announced in an official communication signed by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat on May 24, came hours after a young man breached the President’s security ring during a public gathering in Ganze, forcing officers to swiftly intervene as Ruto abruptly stopped his speech.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja described the incident as a grave security lapse and ordered immediate restructuring within the Presidential Escort Unit and the specialised Recce Sub-Unit.
In the changes, senior officer William Sawe was moved from the Recce Company to take over as Commandant of the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU), replacing Noah Kirwa Maiyo.
Maiyo has been recalled to Kenya Police Headquarters and deployed to the Vigilance Unit in the latest shake-up touching key officers in the presidential security team.
The changes come hours after security agencies launched investigations into the breach during a Thanksgiving event in Ganze, Kilifi County, where President Ruto was addressing members of the public.
The reshuffle also saw Deputy Commandant of the Presidential Escort Unit Juda Mathews Gwiyo directed to proceed on leave pending retirement.
Other changes announced include the appointment of George Kirera as Deputy Commandant PEU from his previous role as Staffing Officer Personnel PEU, while Josphat Sirma was promoted from Deputy Commander Recce Sub Unit to Commanding Officer of the elite Recce Sub Unit.
Rere Kipkoech was also transferred from Deputy SOB1 to Kenya Police Headquarters Vigilance. The changes are seen as part of efforts to tighten presidential security following the Kilifi incident, which authorities described as a serious security breach.
The changes amount to one of the most significant recent reorganisations within the security formations responsible for VIP protection and tactical response operations.
The changes are also seen as part of efforts to tighten presidential security following the Kilifi incident, which authorities described as a serious security breach.
The breach occurred on May 24, 2026, during a Thanksgiving gathering where Ruto was addressing members of the public in Ganze. Although security officers managed to swiftly contain the situation and restore order, Kanja said any compromise involving the President’s security was unacceptable. A man shot from a crowd while armed with a Bible and grabbed Ruto in a dramatic incident captured on camera.
Kanja announced the formation of a special investigations team to conduct a comprehensive probe into how the breach happened. He said the immediate restructuring of the President’s security detail was aimed at strengthening operational protocols and sealing any existing vulnerabilities.
“The security of the Head of State is a matter of national security and will be treated with the utmost seriousness,” Kanja said.
He also warned members of the public attending presidential events to strictly follow security procedures, adding that any attempts to breach security arrangements would be dealt with firmly under the law.
The National Police Service maintained that it remains committed to protecting the country’s leadership and ensuring similar incidents do not recur.
The unexpected intrusion caused a brief moment of panic as members of the President’s security team rushed to restrain the man and escort him away from the stage.
Despite the scare, Ruto urged officers not to mistreat him.
“Leave that young man alone,” the President said as security personnel moved him away.
The Head of State later sought to calm the crowd, joking that the man may have learnt from Fikirini Jacobs “not to miss any opportunity.”
“I will deal with him later,” Ruto quipped, drawing laughter from sections of the audience.
Authorities had not established the motive behind the intrusion by Sunday evening, although Kanja insisted any compromise involving presidential security was unacceptable.
He announced the formation of a special investigations team to probe how the breach occurred and warned members of the public against attempting to violate security protocols during presidential events.
Ruto is protected by an extensive Presidential Escort Unit backed by specialised General Service Unit officers, with additional support from local police commanders whenever he visits different parts of the country.
Members of the National Intelligence Service also play a critical role in presidential security operations.
The president also has the Presidential Escort Unit, which is a fully fledged team that can handle the movement of the president and his family anytime. They, however, usually get the help of the local police whenever the President visits.
Together with his family, the President has about 200 security guards from the GSU. As part of security measures, they don’t allow armed police officers, especially those with rifles, at the events, apart from their members.
Whenever the President moves, the local police commander has to ensure the movement is guarded. If he stops to address a gathering, tens of local officers are deployed.
The President enjoys some of the best police officers’ services, as they are drawn from various units and trained on a common agenda. Other than police officers, officials from the National Intelligence Service also provide crucial services to the President.
Sunday’s scare was not the first involving the president.
In February this year, another man breached security in Mombasa and ran towards Ruto during the disbursement of Sh147 million under the NYOTA youth empowerment programme at the Jomo Kenyatta Showground.
In that incident, security officers quickly moved to restrain the man before Ruto intervened and briefly engaged him in a light-hearted exchange that amused the crowd.
