President William Ruto on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, confronted a section of the security detail at Orahey Grounds, Wajir County after signing an order eliminating vetting during the application of national identity cards.
Immediately after signing the order which was read out by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen in Wajir, Ruto went straight to address the residents.
However, while standing on top of his car, Ruto noticed the security officers shoving off part of the sizeable crowd which had gathered to witness the historical feat.
The head of state immediately intervened by confronting the security officers asking them to leave the citizens alone.
Ruto warned them twice before proceeding with his address to the residents.
“Nyinyi askari acheni hawa watu nani! We unawasukuma unawapeleka wapi? Ruto posed.
Loosely translates to;
“Security officers, stop pushing the people, where are you taking them?”
“We nani wacha kusukuma wananchi, tutakosana. Hawa wananchi ndio wadosi wangu,” Ruto charged while warning them for the second time.
Loosely translates to;
“You stop pushing the people, we are going to disagree. These people are my bosses.”
Ruto proceeded to address the residents vowing that the northeastern region will not be subjected to any form of segregation. The head of state emphasised that the elimination of the vetting exercise was key to fostering national unity.
Promise Made, Promise Kept:
President William Ruto (in Wajir County) fulfills the Kenya Kwanza manifesto pledge by signing a Presidential proclamation to officially abolish vetting subjected to Kenyans in the North Eastern region and other border counties during the… pic.twitter.com/vwzL5Ksgqf
— Hussein Mohamed, MBS. (@HusseinMohamedg) February 5, 2025
Abducted chiefs
Security was tight during his tour after five chiefs were abducted by a suspected militia group. Ruto’s four-day working tour of the Northeastern region began on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, a few kilometres from the location where suspected militants reportedly intercepted a vehicle ferrying the five chiefs who were on official duty travelling to Elwak Town in Mandera County, to prepare the ground for his visit.
Speaking in Mandera, President Ruto vowed to bring back the missing chiefs. According to Ruto, government security agencies, led by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), are currently in hot pursuit of the militants and are working to return the chiefs home.
“Hawa machief lazima warudi nyumbani. Jana hawa magaidi walitaka kuleta hali ya hofu eneo hili; walidhani wakifanya hivyo sitakuja Mandera. Mimi nimekuja Mandera na nikalala Mandera na ikizidi ntalala Mandera,” Ruto announced.
Further, Ruto vowed to decimate the militia group, which has been reigning terror in the region.
“We are not going to cede an inch of our country to criminals…we will go after them, deal with them and eliminate them,” he added.
