Security was heightened across Mombasa and Kilifi counties as President William Ruto concluded his tour of the Coast region, a day after a security breach exposed gaps in his protection detail and triggered a rapid reshuffle within the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU).
The incident occurred in Bamba, Kilifi County, during the thanksgiving ceremony for Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs, when a man carrying what appeared to be a Bible suddenly moved past a group of preachers and rushed toward the President as he delivered his speech.
On Monday, the President concluded his Coast tour under heightened security, with some snipers, additional plainclothes officers, and units from the Rapid Deployment Unit and Recce Unit deployed across venues in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
President William Ruto interacts with members of public after laying a foundation stone for the Makupa Mixed Use Development Market in Mvita Constituency, Mombasa County.
Photo credit: PCS
At Majengo in Mombasa, President Ruto maintained a calm interaction with residents, at one point even pausing to hold a baby handed over to him by a supporter. However, his security detail maintained a tight perimeter around him restraining access to him by the public.
Some scheduled engagements in Nyali, Mombasa County and Kaptuk in Mariakani were also cancelled as security agencies reassessed risk levels.
Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the man who stormed the podium when President Ruto was addressing a gathering remain unknown. On Monday, police sources told Nation that the man, whose identity is yet to be revealed, was scheduled to appear in court at Kilifi.
The same information was corroborated by key sources at the court, who confirmed to have received information about the planned arraignment. However, by 5.00pm, he had not been arraigned.
Other sources claimed that the youthful man was a student at Pwani University in Kilifi County. However, the few students present at the campus which has closed for the long holidays said he was unknown to the community.
Attempts to search social media platforms for any information concerning him were futile, with majority search results only returning the Sunday ordeal. Suspicions by the public as to whether the incident was stage-managed filled comment sections.
It emerged that immediately after concluding his speech, the Head of State, who had stopped security officers from roughing him up, left the venue without speaking to the man.
Witnesses said the man appeared to have positioned himself strategically near the clergy before darting toward the podium, momentarily catching members of the Presidential Escort Unit off-guard.
However, security officers quickly intervened and restrained him before removing him from the President’s immediate vicinity, while Dr Ruto instructed officers to handle him calmly.
The man, dressed in spectacles, a black T-shirt and white trousers, was heard saying: “Nisaidie nimetoka Nairobi,” (help me, I'm from Nairobi) as he attempted to speak further before being overpowered by more than five officers.
The breach immediately triggered a security review, culminating in a swift reshuffle within the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) ordered by Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
Under the changes, PEU Commandant Noah Kirwa Maiyo was transferred to Vigilance House headquarters, while his deputy, Juda Mathews Gwiyo, was sent on terminal leave pending retirement. However, Mr Maiyo was seen discharging his duty as usual in Mombasa on Monday.
William Sawe, formerly in charge of the Recce Sub-Unit, has been promoted to Commandant of the PEU, while George Kirera takes over as Deputy Commandant. Within the Recce Unit, Josphat Sirma has been elevated to Commanding Officer, replacing Sawe’s former position.
President WIlliam Ruto at the Majengo Market in Mombasa to launch the construction of a modern market.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
Other officers were reassigned to various roles at the headquarters as part of what police described as efforts to strengthen operational readiness and close identified security gaps.
Police sources confirmed that a special investigation team has been established to determine how the breach occurred and whether there were lapses in crowd control, intelligence gathering and coordination among security units.
The National Police Service described the incident as one of “gravest national concern,” given its proximity to the Head of State. Inspector General Douglas Kanja ordered an immediate reconstitution of the President’s security detail, saying enhanced measures would be implemented to prevent similar incidents in future. He also warned that any attempt to breach presidential security would be met with the full force of the law.
While order was quickly restored in Bamba, the incident revived concern over a series of recent security scares involving the President. In February, a man attempted to rush toward him during a youth event in Wajir, while another incident was reported in Mombasa the same month. In May 2025, a shoe was thrown at the President during a rally in Migori County.
