MP Nelson Koech welcomes presidential security reshuffle after Ruto’s Kilifi scare
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, May 25, 2026Belgut Member of Parliament (MP) Nelson Koech has hailed the recent shake-up in President William Ruto’s security team after the security breach during his visit to Kilifi County.
Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Monday, May 25, 2026, Koech said the reshuffle by the National Police Service should be a cautionary tale for officers assigned to ensure the safety of the head of state while performing their duties.
“That shakeup should be a lesson to the officers who are providing security to the president that they are not to take their job lightly,” Koech said.
The legislator, who is the chairperson of the defence committee in the National Assembly, has further emphasised that the President’s security is not only his security, but it is also the security of the state, citing that the security of the head of state is intricately linked to the stability and security of the nation.
“The security of William Ruto is not only his security as a president; it is the security of the nation. Therefore, it should be paid much more attention than what we have seen,” he added.
Koech also pointed out that the security breach may have been a result of a communication breakdown and a lack of cohesion in the presidential security outfit and that the recent incident had laid bare areas that required urgent rectification.
The Belgut MP also stated that the decision to appoint younger officers to the presidential protection unit was in line with the changing security threats and the need to be modern and flexible in dealing with them.
“In my view, there has been a lot of miscommunication from the team, maybe misalignment, and probably it needed a more agile team. Looking at Maiyo and the team, and the years he has worked with the presidential unit. It needs probably young people because we are dealing with new threats, emerging threats,” Koech added.
Presidential security breach
President Ruto was addressing residents when a young man suddenly forced his way through security officers and rushed towards the podium.
Officers quickly tackled the man and dragged him away from the stage as panic spread among leaders and members of the public attending the event.
NPS reshuffles
The police have reshuffled President William Ruto’s security team following a security breach in Kilifi County, where a young man broke through the presidential cordon and reached the podium while the head of state was addressing the public.
In changes announced on Sunday night, May 24, 2026, Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) Commandant Noah Maiyo was redeployed to Vigilance House at Kenya Police Headquarters.
William Sawe, who had been serving as commanding officer of the Recce subunits, was appointed the new commandant of the Presidential Escort Unit.