Panic erupted in Kilifi following a brief interruption of President William Ruto’s address by an individual who managed to bypass security protocols and approach the president.
Captured on camera during the ceremony, the young man made his way to the podium as Ruto spoke at the thanksgiving event for Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs.
During a brief but tense period of confusion, the president halted his speech as security personnel worked to apprehend the individual and remove him from the president’s immediate area.
Amid the commotion, visibly shaken by the incident, President Ruto nearly lost his footing as security forcefully escorted the invader away.
During the disruption, President Ruto almost lost his balance while instructing security to ease their restraint on the intruder, who had already been controlled by officers. The president was heard telling the security team, ‘Leave that young man alone.’
Following the incident, a visibly shaken President Ruto attempted to minimize the situation, asserting that there was no cause for concern.
‘That young man poses no issue. I believe he learned from Fikirini Jacobs not to miss an opportunity. I will address this with him later,’ Ruto stated immediately after the incident.
This recent occurrence follows a similar incident that President Ruto endured three months earlier in Wajir County.
On February 12, during his visit to Wajir for the distribution of NYOTA funds, startup capital, the incident took place.
The individual approached from the right side of the podium, entering from Ruto’s blind spot while the Head of State was addressing the public. Nevertheless, Ruto’s security team responded promptly, apprehending the man before he could reach the nation’s most protected official.
Coincidentally, just six days prior on February 6, during an event in Mombasa, an unidentified individual rushed onto the podium as the President was addressing the gathering. However, Ruto intervened and directed his security to permit the man to speak.
In May 2025, the head of state narrowly avoided being struck by a shoe thrown at him, which he blocked with his arm during a rally in Migori County.
After the Migori incident, Ruto’s security team was reportedly restructured and strengthened.
Subsequent events saw the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) implementing stringent crowd and VIP control measures, preventing individuals from approaching the president too closely.
Nevertheless, the recurring incidents have raised questions about the effectiveness of Ruto’s security apparatus, with many wondering how accessible the president has become to anyone approaching.