Why Uhuru's security was scaled down - IG Koome

Inspector General of police Japhet Koome has confirmed the scaling down of Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's security detail.

Addressing the media on Friday, Koome said the security detail has been scaled down and other officers of senior rank that were deployed in his security detail have been recalled back.

He said the commander who leads the security detail of a President is of the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.

However, the law provides that commanders of the security detail of former and retired Presidents must be guarded by a Superintendent of the Police.

“Immediately after you retire as President, the commander of your security detail is the in the rank of the Superintendent of Police. The IG is therefore allowed to make these changes,” he said.

He said the Assistant IG is recalled and assigned a command that matches his rank.

“Let us not say that the officers have been withdrawn, these are just changes that are bound to happen in the structure of the police service as guided by the regulations and the police standing orders.”

Koome did not give the exact number of officers assigned to former President Uhuru, saying that “he is very safe and secure.”

“We cannot give the exact number, not from me,” he said.

He also clarified that the security detail of former First Lady Mama Ngina has not been withdrawn.

“She has her security. We secure her premise. Not just of the former first lady, but also even of the other former presidents, because we respect those offices,” he said.

“That is the position, therefore, let us now speculate.”

He confirmed that the former Cabinet Secretary's Security details have also been scaled down.

“If someone retires, they do not need more officers to guard them,” he said.