Gachagua blasts Murkomen after Ruto’s Kilifi security scare
By Aloys Michael, May 25, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has slammed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen following the recent security breach involving President William Ruto during a public rally in Kilifi County.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, May 25, 2026, Gachagua accused Murkomen of incompetence and negligence, claiming the Interior CS had failed to effectively oversee the country’s security apparatus at a time when presidential protection was under scrutiny.
“The problem of the security of President William Ruto is that he has a CS who is naïve, childish and juvenile. In the inner circle of the ministry, I’m told he is called the minister of entertainment,” Gachagua said.
He further claimed that senior security officials had privately expressed concerns about Murkomen’s leadership style and commitment to national security matters.
“Security chiefs are telling me he is not available to be briefed on the security of the country, and when he is available, he does not comprehend security briefs. He is known for party after party,” the Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) chief claimed.
This comes in the wake of dramatic changes within the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) after a security scare during Ruto’s rally in Ganze, Kilifi County. During the incident, a man reportedly managed to get dangerously close to the presidential dais before security officers quickly intervened.
Following the breach, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat announced a major shake-up within the President’s security detail.
PEU Commandant Noah Kirwa Maiyo was removed from his position and redeployed to Vigilance House in Nairobi, while William Sawe, who previously headed the elite Recce Squad sub-unit, was appointed the new PEU Commandant with immediate effect.
At the same time, Juda Matthews Gwiyo, who had been serving as deputy commandant of the PEU, was sent on leave ahead of retirement. George Kirera was appointed deputy commandant as part of the restructuring aimed at tightening presidential security.
Josephat Sirma also assumed leadership of the Recce Squad following Sawe’s promotion.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja defended the sweeping changes, saying they were necessary to seal gaps within the President’s security arrangements after repeated scares at public events.
“I have ordered immediate changes to the security detail responsible for the President’s protection in order to strengthen protocols and seal any existing vulnerabilities,” Kanja said in a statement issued on Sunday.
The Ganze incident marked the latest in a series of security concerns surrounding the Head of State during public engagements. Earlier this year, another individual attempted to access the podium while Ruto was addressing supporters before security personnel subdued him.
Ruto must be safe
Despite his criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration, Gachagua insisted that the President’s safety must remain a national priority, warning that any harm to Ruto could plunge the country into political instability.
“We want William Ruto out of office, but we want him out of office through the ballot next year. We don’t want him out of the office through any other method,” he stated.
“The security of the President, his safety and his well-being are very important ingredients of our political stability as a country.”
The DCP party leader emphasised that the presidency remains a critical institution regardless of public opinion about the current office holder.
“The President of Kenya, no matter how unpopular he is, must be safe, and he must be properly protected. Because if anything was to happen to him, we would have a crisis,” Gachagua warned.
Drawing parallels with the 1994 Rwanda tragedy, he cautioned against complacency in matters concerning presidential security.
“It is very irresponsible and precarious for the government to play around with the security of President William Ruto,” he said, adding that the President still commands significant political support across the country.
According to Gachagua, any attack on the Head of State could trigger unrest among supporters and destabilise the nation politically.
“If anything was to happen to President William Ruto through recklessness, there will be political instability in this country. We have no other country. We want William Ruto to be safe. We want William Ruto to be alive and to be well,” he said.