Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara has publicly accused President William Ruto of orchestrating the withdrawal of her security detail as a means of politically targeting allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Kihara expressed deep concern for her safety, stating she now feels “vulnerable and naked” without her bodyguard. She issued a stark warning: should any harm befall her, President Ruto must be held accountable.
Kihara directly appealed to the President to honor his campaign promise not to use state security for political ends. “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,” Kihara stated.
She pleaded with Ruto to restore her security, emphasizing that she is a “very small person to be fought with such a big punch,” and urged him to “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.”
The lawmaker cited the recent fatal shooting of Kasipul MP Charles Were as a chilling reminder of the dangers facing legislators.
She underscored that security is a constitutional right for MPs, questioning how she is expected to perform her duties without protection. “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 remarked, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
Kihara detailed how her bodyguard was recalled on Wednesday, disarmed, and his phone confiscated. She said he was interrogated about an incident at DCP Headquarters—despite not being present during the event—further fueling her suspicion that the action is politically motivated. “The move to strip me of security was a targeted political attack,” she asserted, warning that it undermines the government’s commitment to political tolerance.
The MP also addressed her loyalty to Gachagua, insisting that “being a friend to Gachagua is not a crime.” She emphasized her independence, recalling how she campaigned for Ruto when he exited Jubilee, and warned that efforts to intimidate Gachagua’s allies will not succeed. “I am not a baby or a fool; I am somebody who can make their own decision,” she declared, vowing not to be swayed by political pressure.
Kihara’s remarks come amid escalating tensions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, with several leaders allied to Gachagua alleging state persecution. Earlier in the week, Gachagua himself claimed his life was in danger and accused intelligence officers of trailing him and planning to use poison-laced tear gas against him.
