The Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has swiftly ordered a comprehensive shake-up in the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) following a serious security breach during President William Ruto’s public engagement in Ganze, Kilifi County, on May 24, 2026.
The incident occurred at Mnagoni Primary School during a thanksgiving service honoring Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs.
A man managed to breach multiple layers of security, reaching the dais where President Ruto was addressing the crowd and held the president by the shoulder while reportedly seeking employment.
President Ruto remained composed, instructing security to stand down, before officers quickly intervened and removed the intruder.
The president however downplayed the whole situation saying “That young man is not a problem. I think he has learned from Fikirini Jacobs that when an opportunity comes, he should not let it slip away.”
He further urged his security team to leave the young man alone, “We will sort him out later. He is a good young man trying to create his own opportunities.”
IG Kanja however described the lapse as a “serious security breach” and a matter of “gravest national concern.”
He emphasized that the security of the Head of State is paramount to national security. To address the vulnerabilities exposed, Kanja directed immediate restructuring of the President’s close protection team.
Key among the changes is the replacement of the Presidential Escort Unit Commandant. Senior Assistant Inspector General Noah Kirwa Maiyo, a veteran officer who had served in the role since July 2024, was redeployed to Vigilance House at Kenya Police Headquarters.
Taking over as the new Commandant is William Kiptoo Sawe, who previously served as Commanding Officer of the elite Recce Sub Unit within the General Service Unit (GSU) to server as commandant of Police Escort Unit.
George Kirera from staffing officer Personnel Unit taking over from Juda Mathews Gwiyo retirement as the deputy Commandant Police Escort Unit. Gwiyo has since been proceeded on a leave pending retirement.
The reshuffle, signed off by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, also includes appointing Josephat Sirma as the commanding officer of Rece sub-unit .Other adjustments within the unit aimed at tightening protocols.
Additional officers attached to the PEU are expected to face redeployments or further reviews as part of broader efforts to strengthen operational efficiency.
IG Kanja has constituted a special investigations team to conduct a swift and thorough inquiry into the breach.
The team will examine how the intruder penetrated the security cordon, identify systemic weaknesses in crowd control and VIP protection during public events, and recommend long-term fixes.
This latest incident adds to a string of recent security concerns involving presidential engagements, raising questions about evolving threats and the effectiveness of current protocols.
