A video showing President William Ruto addressing coffee farmers in Kirinyaga has sparked mixed reactions online after Kenyans noticed what appeared to be a tighter security arrangement around the Head of State during the event.
The meeting was held during the launch of a coffee revival programme in Kianyaga, Kirinyaga County. In the clip, President Ruto is seen addressing residents and coffee farmers from inside a tent while surrounded by security officers.
Unlike previous public engagements where he could be seen openly with security at a distance, the latest footage shows security personnel maintaining a close protective ring around him as he delivered his speech.
The video quickly attracted attention online, with some social media users expressing surprise at the visible security presence. Others argued that the measures were understandable given the security challenges that have recently faced the President during public events.
The discussion comes weeks after a security breach in Ganze, Kilifi County, where a man managed to approach President Ruto while he was addressing a public gathering. The incident forced security officers to intervene and led to immediate changes within the Presidential Escort Unit after authorities termed it a serious security lapse.
While sharing the latest clip, blogger Cyprian Nyakundi claimed that the President’s visit to Kirinyaga appeared heavily guarded, noting that security officers formed a tight shield around the Head of State during the event.
The footage has since generated mixed reactions, with some Kenyans saying the President deserves maximum protection as the country’s leader, while others questioned the contrast between the latest security arrangements and the more open public interactions that have characterized some of his past engagements.