A major security review and overhaul has been ordered following a breach involving President William Ruto during a public event in Ganze, Kilifi County.

The incident occurred during a thanksgiving ceremony held in honour of Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs, where the Head of State was addressing residents.

During the speech, a young man suddenly broke through the security cordon and managed to reach the podium area, briefly placing a hand on the President’s shoulder before being swiftly restrained by security officers and escorted away from the stage.

Despite the seriousness of the security lapse, President Ruto intervened and asked officers not to mistreat the intruder, telling them to leave the young man alone.He later downplayed the situation in a light-hearted manner, suggesting the individual was simply eager and had missed an opportunity.His remarks prompted laughter from sections of the crowd.However, the incident has raised serious concerns within the country’s security apparatus.Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja described the breach as a grave security failure and announced immediate corrective measures.

He confirmed that a special investigations team has been formed to establish how the individual managed to bypass multiple layers of security surrounding the President.

Kanja emphasised that the safety of the Head of State is a matter of national security and warned that any compromise would be treated with utmost seriousness, with legal consequences for those responsible.

The changes are expected to affect the Presidential Escort Unit, which works alongside other security formations including the General Service Unit and the National Intelligence Service.

The Kilifi incident adds to previous similar security scares during presidential events, highlighting ongoing challenges in crowd control and protection of high-profile leaders during public engagements across the country.