Governor Sonkos bodyguards reduced from 26 to 5 officers

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s security detail has been cut down from 26 police officers to five, following a government directive aimed at scaling down the level of VIP protection to bolster security in the country.

Last week, Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i announced that half of security personnel assigned to VIP protection would be recalled and redeployed to serve the ordinary citizens.

“Government to reduce the levels of VIP protection by 50% by July this year so that the officers can be deployed to protect life and property of ordinary citizens, says Interior CS Dr. Matiang’i,” tweeted Ministry of Interior spokesman Mwenda Njoka on May 8.

According to police spokesman Charles Owino, the move to reduce Governor Sonko’s security detail is part of a plan to recall 5,000 officers irregularly attached to VIPs.

“In the case of Sonko we only took what is in excess and left the maximum number of security as required. So he has sufficient security,” said Owino.

“It’s not only him we have withdrawn from, we have also withdrawn from other Governors and VIPs when necessary.”

The law requires each governor be assigned not more than five security officers and with Sonko having 26, the police service has termed it as irregular.

At the same time, the government is also rethinking who is a VIP and who deserves to have bodyguards deployed to them for extra security.

“Once we figure out who is a VIP and who is not, then the number will be higher which means more police for the general public,” said Mr. Njoka last week.