By CYRUS OMBATI
Following claims of alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and in line with his familyâs request, he has been given ten more elite agents to guard him.
This takes up his round-the- clock security to about 60 officers, making him Kenyaâs second-most protected VIP after President Kibaki, who has a 200-member force, supplemented by another standby unit wherever he visits, complete with air evacuation, and armoured protection.
The more than 10 officers from regular police and General Service Unit were deployed to PMâs protection unit on Tuesday. The guards usually give round-the-clock protection to the VIPâs spouses and children. Some are also stationed in their offices and homes.
Police sources reveal 2,500 police officers â out of the national tally of40,000, some of whom, are in traffic department, guard ministers, MPs, politicians, and top Government officials. Insiders said about 1,600 officers from the 30,000-member Administration Police complement them.
The General Service Unitâs contribution to VIP protection stands at 600.
However, each member of the bloated 42-member Cabinet is entitled to at least nine police officers.
Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe did not want to be drawn into discussion on the deployment of bodyguards, but added it is their duty to ensure safety of lives and property of Kenyans. "Police have a duty to protect all Kenyans and their property," he said.
Precaution
Sources in Government security circles revealed the decision to reinforce Railaâs safety was taken to ensure whether the claims by Gem MP Jackoyo Midiwo were true or not, the PM and his family were safe.
State security agents said even if the claims were untrue, it is considered possible that someone could take advantage of the talk of a threat to actually endanger his life to foment a political crisis.
They said if anything happened to him, it would be assumed his killers were known, and the alarm had been raised.
