A clip of two members of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s security team stopping Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika from going wherever she wanted to in a presidential function went viral on Wednesday with Nakuru residents condemning the officers.
Sen. Kihika was among leaders who had turned up to receive the President at the Nakuru County Assembly where he launched a refurbished debating chamber and Ugatuzi Plaza.
According to Njoro MP Charity Kathambi, the two security officers ordered that all Members of County Assembly (MCAs) get off the line of leaders who were to receive the President.
“The two ordered that no MCA should be on the line when they came back. The MCAs, despite it being their day obliged and moved away,” said Kathambi.
First on the line was Governor Lee Kinyanjui followed by County Speaker Joel Kairu and Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama who stood next to the Senator.
“When the two came back they found the Senator on the line. They thought she was one of the MCAs. The male security officer shouted at her ‘yaani MCAs hamsikii’ as he pushed her away,” said Kathambi.
The second officer, a woman who was also in civilian clothes slappped the Senator for getting back in line before Arama and his Gilgil counterpart Martha Wangari intervened.
“The security guys didn’t know who is who. It was unfortunate that this brought about the confusion. However, the Senator took no offence and has not complained about it,” said Arama.
After realising his mistake, the male officer moved behind the legislators and pulled the senator aside to apologize, according to Kathambi.
“He apologised to her but it was wrong for them to handle her in such a manner. We request that they handle people with respect. None of us had bad intentions while receiving the President,” said Kathambi.
Kathambi added that the MCAs should have been given a chance to shake hands with the President insisting that the event was theirs.
