Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara has accused President William Ruto of using security forces to frustrate political allies of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after her security detail was allegedly withdrawn.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Kihara lamented that she feels “vulnerable and naked” without her bodyguard and warned that any harm that may befall her should be blamed on the Head of State.
In a passionate appeal, the MP pleaded with President Ruto to keep his campaign promise of not weaponising State security to settle political scores and restore her security.
“Should anything happen to me, Dr Ruto, you are to blame. We sat many times, even with Gachagua, and you said that you would never use security forces for political reasons and it is exactly what you are doing,” she stated.
“I feel very vulnerable now, I feel so naked…Mr. President, please give me back my security officer. I am a very small person to be fought with such a big punch, and I think it is not fair. Please, let me live because when you remove my bodyguard, it means you want to harm me. Don’t do what you swore not to do.”
Citing the recent incident where Kasipul MP Charles Were was shot in Nairobi, the Naivasha legislator further called on the President to reinstate her security officer, reiterating that it is her constitutional right as a Member of Parliament.
“MPs are entitled to a bodyguard and you know what happened recently when our colleague was shot dead. I don’t know whether we are supposed to have goons in the car with pangas or rungus,” she added.
According to the MP, the bodyguard was allegedly recalled on Wednesday, disarmed, and his telephone was taken away.
“The day before yesterday, my bodyguard was summoned; he went to Naivasha yesterday. He was disarmed and his telephone was taken away. He said he was interrogated about what happened at DCP Headquarters during the shootout, but he was not at the venue on that day,” she noted.
Kihara said the move to strip her of security was a targeted political attack, warning that it sends the wrong signal about the government’s commitment to political tolerance.
“If you are going to use security to frustrate friends of Gachagua, it is all in vain, and I don’t think you will go very far,” she said.
“Being a friend to Gachagua is not a crime. I am not a baby or a fool; I am somebody who can make their own decision, like I did when I was supporting Dr Ruto. I was all over the country campaigning for him when he exited from Jubilee.”
Kihara’s remarks come amid growing tensions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, with sections of leaders allied to the former Deputy President accusing the State of targeting them for their loyalty.
The former DP earlier this week claimed that his life was also in danger and that Ruto should be blamed if anything happens to him.
Gachagua alleged that security officers from several State intelligence agencies were trailing him on Sunday while he attended a church service in Gatanga, Murang’a County, adding that the officers intended to throw poison-laced tear gas at him.
