Two Kenyans have moved to court challenging the reshuffle of Deputy President William Ruto’s security personnel, a subject that has since elicited a mixed reaction in the country.
The reshuffle, according to the government saw the obvious General Service Unit (GSU) officers guarding Deputy President William Ruto’s official residences replaced with the Administration Police.
And now, the Thirdway Alliance party officials Miruru Waweru and Angela Mwakali now want Inspector-General of Police (IG)Hillary Mutyambai compelled to return the withdrawn squad, citing Chapter 8 Section 5 (e) of the National Police Service Standing Orders.
“The Petitioners fault the decision arrived at by the respondent as it was done in an opaque and arbitrary manner and there is no explanation or what criteria guided the process,” reads the petition.
According to the duo, the reshuffle hampers the DP’s performance of his constitutional duties and obligations to the detriment of the Kenyan public.
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The illegal actions against the DP are politically instigated and are meant to create a state of fear in the race to the 2022 general elections slated for August 8, the two argued.
“The Petitioners are apprehensive that the illegal actions of the respondents are politically instigated and are meant to create a state of fear in the build-up to the general elections scheduled for August 2022,” they said.
They want an order compelling the return of GSU officers with immediate effect.
Through lawyer Elias Mutuma, they claim IG Mutyambai restrained from curtailing and denying the DP access to any official office or residence designated for the Deputy President.
In their petition, Mr Mutuma said that IG Mutyambai justified the withdrawal of the GSU by asserting that their replacement with officers from the Administration Police was routine deployment.
They further stated that unlike GSU officers, the Administration Police are not ordinarily trained on VVIP protection.
As a category one VVIP, the Deputy President is entitled to security from the same elite guards as his boss. Both of them are supposed to be guarded by the G Company and the Recce Company, which are elite platoons from the GSU whose members are carefully selected to form the Presidential Security Unit.
Also in this unit is the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) under former Recce Company commandant Josephat Mbuthia Kirimi, whose job is to offer close protection to the President and his Deputy whenever they are on the move.
The job of this unified unit, whose members receive the best training both in the country and abroad, is to provide security specifically to the President, the first family, the Deputy President, retired presidents, visiting heads of State and any other roles that are directed by the Inspector General.
Unexpected reshuffle
The roles of these elite units are so specific and unique that they are listed in the Police Standing Orders.
“The Commandant of the General Service Unit shall be responsible for security to the President, the Deputy President, State Houses and Lodges,” says Chapter 8, Section 5(e) of the Police Standing Orders.
Formed in 1977, Security of Government Buildings Unit (SGB) is specifically mandated to provide security to government buildings, installations and institutions.
The unit is sometimes deployed provide residence security to those who qualify, escort cash and offer close protection.
According to Nation newspaper, It is, however, several notches below Recce and G Company in terms of training.
