Mama Ngina opts for private security after police officers redeployed to her home withdrawn, again

A day after security officers manning the premises of former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta’s Muthaiga and Ichaweri homes were recalled, a group of armed officers was deployed to the Ichaweri home.

An officer who declined to speak on record said they were redeployed to the Ichaweri home of Mama Ngina at 7:30am on Wednesday morning, roughly 14 hours after they were recalled and ordered to report to the nearest police station.

At the road leading to Mama Ngina’s home in Gatundu, heavy police presence was visible, with barricades set up a few meters to the home.

A contingent of armed officers stood guard at the gate, replacing private guards who manned the premises overnight after armed security was withdrawn on Tuesday evening.

The situation was different at Mama Ngina’s Muthaiga home in Nairobi; unlike in Ichaweri, the access road leading to the home was devoid of armed security.

At the gate, four guards from a private security company were on duty, their wooden batons a far cry from the guns which are under normal circumstances a common feature on personnel guarding the home of Kenya’s first president.

A guard who declined to speak on camera said they were increased from two to five after the armed police officers who normally guard the premises were recalled.

The withdrawal of armed security from Mama Ngina’s homes comes amid accusations by government officials including President Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua that former President Uhuru Kenyatta is funding the ongoing anti-government protests.