Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered a probe into an incident in Wajir County on Thursday, where a man rushed onto the stage as President William Ruto addressed a National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) start-up capital disbursement forum.
In a statement, the National Police Service (NPS) said the safety of the President, other dignitaries, and members of the public was not compromised during the brief drama, which was captured on presidential media channels.
“The Presidential Security Team and other officers on the ground acted with the utmost professionalism and speed to de-escalate the situation and restore order,” said a statement released by Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.
The statement added that the man, identified as Ahmed Muhumed, who claimed to be a local MCA aspirant, had been arrested over the breach.
“The individual involved was swiftly apprehended, and the event proceeded without further interruption,” read the statement.
According to NPS, a team has been formed to conduct an inquiry into the matter within three days to identify any procedural gaps that may have contributed to the breach and to take immediate remedial measures.
During the incident, President Ruto had been addressing residents at Wajir Stadium when proceedings were briefly interrupted as the man rushed onto the podium and charged toward him.
The President paused as his security aides, including his aide-de-camp, wrestled the man off the stage.
He later played down the incident, calling on his security detail to go easy on the man.
“Polepole, pole!” the President said to his detail.
The man later told the media he had no ill intentions and simply wanted to speak to the President about his political ambitions.
“Mimi nilitaka kuongea na Rais kwa sababu nasimama kiti ya MCA huko kwetu,” he said.
Translation: I wanted to speak to the President because I want to vie for an MCA position.
The incident came six days after a similar security scare at another NYOTA event at the Jomo Kenyatta Showground in Mombasa, where a man ran toward the podium before being apprehended by officers from the Presidential Security Unit.
