By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, 24 May 2026 - A major shake-up has hit the Kenya Police Service following a security breach involving President William Ruto during a public event in Ganze, Kilifi County, with senior officers attached to the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) either redeployed, retired, or reassigned in what appears to be an immediate response to the lapse.
The changes came hours after the National Police Service confirmed what Inspector General Douglas Kanja described as a “serious security breach” during a Thanksgiving event attended by the Head of State.
In a strongly worded statement, the Inspector General termed any breach involving the President’s security as “a matter of the gravest national concern” and announced the formation of a special investigations team to conduct what he called a “swift, thorough, and uncompromising inquiry” into the incident.
At the centre of the reshuffle is Mr Noah Kirwa Maiyo, who has been removed from his position as Commandant of the Presidential Escort Unit and transferred to Kenya Police Headquarters, Vigilance.
The transfer is widely being interpreted as a demotion following mounting concerns over repeated security lapses around presidential events in recent months.
Maiyo had taken over leadership of the elite presidential protection unit in 2025, at a time when the administration was increasingly embracing open public engagements and campaign-style events that security experts had already warned could expose the President to heightened risk.
The internal police communication signed by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat also directed Mr Juda Mathews Gwiyo, who served as Deputy Commandant of the PEU, to proceed on leave pending retirement.
In the latest changes, Mr William Sawe has been appointed the new Commandant of the PEU, moving from his previous role as Commanding Officer of the Recce Sub Unit.
George Kirera has been promoted to Deputy Commandant PEU, while Josphat Sirma assumes command of the Recce Sub Unit.
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The reshuffle follows Sunday’s dramatic incident in Kilifi, where a man reportedly carrying a Bible managed to breach security barriers and rush toward the President while he was addressing the public.
Although the situation was quickly contained by security officers and no injuries were reported, the incident once again raised questions about the effectiveness of the President’s protective detail during increasingly crowded public engagements.
The Kilifi breach is the latest in a series of incidents that have exposed vulnerabilities in presidential security arrangements.
Earlier this year, another individual breached security during a public function in Wajir County, reigniting debate over the administration’s preference for open-stage and crowd-heavy events that place the President in close proximity to large gatherings.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that such formats complicate perimeter control and increase operational risk for the Presidential Escort Unit.
In his statement, Inspector General Kanja emphasised that the security of the Head of State would now be treated with heightened urgency, adding that “all persons attending public events, particularly those involving the President and other national leaders, must strictly adhere to established security procedures and protocols at all times.”
The developments now place the Presidential Escort Unit under intense scrutiny, with the ongoing investigations expected to determine whether the breach resulted from procedural failure, operational complacency, or broader systemic weaknesses within the presidential security apparatus.
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