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Retired president Uhuru Kenyatta has now been forced to donate some of his armed security to protect his mother and former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta.
The police officers were informed by Uhuru to go and supplement private security guards deployed at the private home of Mama Ngina in Muthaiga, Nairobi, officials aware of the issue said.
This follows a decision by the state to withdraw General Service Unit and Administration Police officers who have been guarding the former First Lady’s homes in Nairobi and Gatundu.
Uhuru said the officers who have been guarding his mother for more than 50 years were withdrawn without an explanation.
Mama Ngina was not present when the guards were recalled on July 18.
It was then that Uhuru reportedly told some of those seconded to him to go and protect his mother’s house following threats that goons would storm there.
And he said he would not be intimidated and would defend himself and his family.
“If they want me let them come for me. I am here. They should not go for my old mother or children. I will not be intimidated. I am ready to defend my family,” he said.
“People who have been guarding my mother for 50 years being withdrawn is wrong.”
The government ordered the family to surrender 28 assorted guns that they own.
They are licensed to own guns.
“Don’t plan against my mother. Don’t plan against my children. They want to take their weapons. If they have illegal weapons say,” he said last Friday.
He said the weapons are legally held and he does not know what the government plans for him and the family.
“They followed the procedures to own the weapons. How many people have such weapons including foreigners?” An angry Uhuru asked.
He said he was ready to live without government security and that he would defend himself.
Private security guards were deployed to guard the residence hours after the withdrawal of the police.
Almost a dozen guards from a local company were keeping vigil in and outside the compounds.
The withdrawal came after some politicians accused Uhuru of funding the protests against the high cost of living, an accusation he denies.
On Friday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said 23 firearms were recovered from three homes in Karen, Nairobi, following an operation launched after establishing that weapons used during demos were supplied by civilian gun holders.
“Today afternoon, an operation has been going on targeting three homesteads within the Karen area where a total of 23 firearms, some of which are suspected to have been used in illegal activities are kept,” he said. BY THE STAR