Mama Ngina's Security Reinstated Hours After Withdrawal
According to officials, the former First Lady was not notified of the actions by the government, before implementation.
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UPDATE Wednesday, July 19: The security of former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta was reinstated hours after it was withdrawn from her Gatundu and Muthaiga homes by the government.
The officers were deployed at the home a few minutes after 7:30 am. Before then, security guards from a private company were manning the premises.
At the Mutomo trading centre, more officers have been deployed to guard other premises owned by the Kenyatta Family. The homes of the first President in Ichaweri and Muthaiga are always guarded by officers from elite GSU.
The government has withdrawn the security of former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta.
Reports have indicated that officials of the former First Family, Mama Ngina, who is also former President Uhuru Kenyatta's mother, had her security withdrawn this evening at about 5 pm.
Officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) and Administration Police (AP) have been instructed to leave her Gatundu and Muthaiga homes and report to the nearest police station.
Photo of Mama Ngina Kenyatta. /FILE
According to officials, the former First Lady was not notified of the actions by the government, before implementation.
Before the first recall in 2022, she had a total of 30 officers guarding all her premises combined with the senior most back then being a chief inspector
The former first lady was left with eight officers in total and the senior most being a senior sergeant, who have now all been recalled.
On February 3, 2023, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome dismissed concerns regarding the withdrawal of Mama Ngina's security while quelling concerns that the security detail of former President Uhuru Kenyatta was scaled down for the purposes of deployment.
"Those other units protecting the DP and retired presidents must be of lower rank for command and control purposes. That's what we've done. It's true. Whatever has been done is in good faith," Koome stated then.
Earlier, over 10,000 traders in Nairobi had threatened to march towards Mama Ngina's home to file a list of grievances over Azimio la Umoja's planned three-day protests.
The traders said they would appeal to Mama Ngina to speak to Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga with the aim of calling off the demonstrations.
"She once served as First Lady and hence understands that such protests affect traders negatively and subsequently hurts the economy. To Uhuru, you're retired. The world does not revolve around you so our lives should not be put in danger," one of the traders stated.
"Some of our traders will not work for three days straight so how will we earn a living? That is why we will march to her home and we appeal to the police for protection."
The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) on Wednesday, July 12 estimated that the ongoing anti-government protests were costing Kenya an average of Ksh3 billion per day, losses which were attributed to destruction, looting and damage of properties during the protests
Due to the ongoing protests, several business owners have opted to close their establishments fearing theft and chaos, with experts warning that another protest in the midst of a harsh economic climate could have devastating consequences.
Mama Ngina, who last made her public appearance on April 20, 2023, has not been vocal regarding the current state of the nation, urging Kenyans to maintain peace and the youth to exercise resilience demonstrated by veteran leaders to achieve political and economic prosperity.
