Mungatana defends police, criticises Gachagua remarks

Tana River Senator Danstan Mungatana during a press briefing in at Parliament Building on May 26,2026. Photo/Enos Teche

Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over remarks on the composition and professionalism of the Presidential Escort Unit, accusing him of “tribalising” the National Police Service and spreading false claims about President William Ruto’s security team.

Speaking after Gachagua questioned the structure of the Presidential Escort Unit, Mungatana defended the National Police Service, saying the former deputy president was unfairly introducing ethnicity into matters of national security.

“I want to respond to the unfortunate attacks on the National Police Service attributed to the impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua,” Mungatana said.

The senator dismissed claims that most officers in the Presidential Escort Unit come from President Ruto’s community.

According to Mungatana, the deputy commandant of the elite security team, which was reshuffled by Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja, comes from Tana River County and has served with distinction for years.

“He tried to create the impression that the majority of officers in the Presidential Escort Unit are from the President’s community. May I inform Kenyans that the deputy commandant of that unit is a person from Tana River County,” he said.

Mungatana said he personally interacted with officers attached to the unit during a thanksgiving ceremony for Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Firikini Jacobs in Bamba, where President Ruto was present.

“We spoke to many members of that unit while waiting for the President to arrive. Many of them do not come from the President’s community,” he added.

The senator accused Gachagua of interpreting political issues through what he termed “the prism of tribal interpretation.”

“What is wrong with you? Why is it that everything you must see through tribal interpretation? Why can’t you just be a Kenyan?” Mungatana posed.

The remarks come after Gachagua criticised the President’s security arrangement following a recent security scare involving President Ruto at a public function.

Gachagua alleged that some officers attached to the presidential detail were distracted and unprofessional, claiming some were “on WhatsApp” during the incident. Mungatana, however, rejected the claims, saying the officers acted professionally under the circumstances.

“The person who approached the President was seated among pastors and was carrying a Bible. The officers could not immediately know he was a threat,” he explained.

He further criticised Gachagua for referring to the officers as “jokers”, saying the same unit had also provided security during his time as Deputy President.

“This is an elite unit. It serves the President, the Deputy President and the Prime Cabinet Secretary. If you think these people are jokers, then you must be the greatest joker for accepting to be guarded by them,” Mungatana said.

The senator also explained the recruitment process into the Presidential Escort Unit, saying it is professional and drawn from across the country.

He noted that officers are recruited from all 47 counties and serve in general duties for several years before being selected into specialised units after further training, including outside Kenya.

“When officers are recruited into the National Police Service from all the 47 counties, they must first serve for five or six years in general police duty. Only exemplary officers are selected into the Presidential Escort Unit and trained further, including outside Kenya,” he stated.

Mungatana warned politicians against criticising security agencies, saying there are “unwritten rules” in politics that should be respected.

“You can attack politicians, Cabinet Secretaries or even the President. But you do not attack our military, intelligence officers or police. These people are honoured because they protect the nation,” he said.