Gov’t defends IG Kanja amid outrage for addressing President Ruto’s Nyeri rally

Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has defended Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja after he came under heavy criticism and scrutiny for addressing a rally led by President William Ruto in Nyeri County on Tuesday.

Kanja’s remarks, which were made during a public event as part of Ruto’s ongoing development tour of the Mt. Kenya region, were perceived by many as a political rallying call, sparking backlash from Kenyans who argued that the IG’s actions compromised the impartiality of the National Police Service (NPS).

In a statement released on Friday, Mwaura stated that the IG is responsible for ensuring public safety and security at presidential functions, including overseeing the protection of the Head of State and other dignitaries.

“As the head of the National Police Service (NPS), the Inspector General (IG) is mandated to provide security and coordination during presidential functions as provided under section 24 of the National Police Service Act, 2011, which mandates the police to ensure public safety and security, including at events attended by the Head of State,” he said.

“The NPS Standing Orders Chapter 7, Section 8, places the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) under the direct supervision of the Inspector General of Police to protect the President, visiting dignitaries, and designated VIPs.”

The government spokesperson further clarified that the IG's presence in Nyeri was within the scope of his official duties and that Kanja’s address was focused solely on ensuring the smooth execution of the Ruto’s visit.

“The IG’s presence in Nyeri was therefore strictly in line with his official duties. When the Inspector General of Police addressed residents in his home area, his remarks were strictly within the scope of his official duties, emphasizing the significance of the President’s visit and ensuring its smooth execution, without reference to political parties or competitive politics,” said Mwaura.

Further, Mwaura stressed that at no point did the IG’s actions undermine the impartiality of his office, adding that Kanja had been conducting an operational tour across several counties, including Baringo, Samburu, and Laikipia, since mid-March 2025.

“At no point have his statements or activities compromised the neutrality of his office, reaffirming his commitment to upholding professionalism and impartiality in law enforcement,” he said.

To push his point home, Mwaura highlighted similar practices in other countries, such as the United States, Nigeria and South Africa, where top security officials regularly attend or speak at events attended by their respective heads of state.

“During President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, IG Hillary Mutyambai accompanied him on development tours, including in North Eastern Kenya, where he addressed security issues and police welfare. In Nigeria, Former IGP Usman Baba regularly appeared in President Muhammadu Buhari’s national functions, particularly in security-sensitive areas,” argued the government spokesperson.

“In South Africa, the National Commissioner of the SAPS has participated in Presidential Imbizos, which are public engagement forums similar to those in Mt. Kenya region. In the United States, The FBI Director and Homeland Security Secretary have often spoken at presidential events related to national security.”

Mwaura concluded by urging Kenyans to disregard what he called "misleading assertions" that suggested the IG’s involvement was politically motivated.

“The government urges the public to disregard misleading assertions that the IG’s presence was political. The police service remains apolitical and committed to its constitutional mandate of maintaining law and order, in line with global best practices of security sector governance,” he said.

The remarks come after the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) condemned Kanja’s actions, with the lawyer’s body President Faith Odhiambo, in a statement on Thursday, expressing concerns over the IG's presence and remarks at the Kieni rally.

Odhiambo argued that Kanja’s participation compromised the impartiality of the NPS, thereby violating constitutional principles.

She hence demanded that the police boss withdraws from all political engagements and tender an immediate public apology for what she termed a violation of the Constitution and police service regulations.

IG Kanja has however since dismissed LSK's allegations terming the claims as misleading and baseless.