President William Ruto has demonstrated his confidence in the safety of all regions in Kenya by spending three consecutive nights in the country’s volatile North Eastern region.
On Tuesday, he stayed in Mandera, followed by a night in Wajir on Wednesday, and concluded his visit with a stay in Garissa on Thursday.
This region, often seen as prone to insecurity due to frequent attacks by Al Shabaab militants, was no deterrent to Ruto, who carried on with his itinerary despite the challenges.
His visit came just days after five chiefs were abducted by suspected militants, raising fears and concerns about safety.
But, determined to visit the region, Ruto embarked on a four-day tour that saw him inspect and launch several projects.
His decision to spend time in the region was a clear indication that he believes that all parts of the country including North Eastern are secure contrary to the long-held belief.
Speaking in Mandera, the Head of State even publicly addressed the motive behind the abduction of the chiefs, suggesting it was an attempt to scare him so that he cannot visit the region.
“Hawa wajinga walikuwa wanafikiria ya kwamba wakifanya hivyo ati ndiyo nisikuje hapa. Ni wajinga sana, ni wazimu,” he retorted
(Those fools thought that by doing so they could stop me from coming here.They are very foolish and mad).
He even stressed that he was not just visiting Mandera but “I have come and will spend a night and I can even extend it.”
Ruto stated that Mandera is part of Kenya, and he will do everything possible to make it safe just like other parts of the country.
He said every part part of the country is important they will not cede an inch of it to criminals who want to unleash mayhem.
To ensure his security, specialised police units from all services were deployed, with Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli accompanying him throughout the tour, overseeing the safety arrangements.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) was also present in the region, carrying out patrols in the towns, separate from the president’s public events, to ensure the area remained secure.
While the president’s security is always top-notch, it was further heightened during this tour.
His security detail is multi-layered, consisting of elite specialised units specifically drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU).
The Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Administration Police (AP) usually based in border areas, had also been mobilised to be part of the presidential security, all working seamlessly to guarantee his safety.
Ruto also conducted night meetings with leaders from each of the counties after the day’s activities.
While it was seen as political, his visit reflects his resolve to bridge the gaps that have existed in presidential attention towards the northern regions of the country.
By Star