MP Bodyguards Withdrawn After Dishonouring KDF Soldiers

Kitutu Masaba Member of Parliament (MP) Timothy Bosire‘s security detail has been withdrawn a few weeks after he refused to join a standing ovation, for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers killed in El Adde, Somalia.

Bosire disregarded a request by President Uhuru Kenyatta urging all MPs to honour KDF soldiers during his recent State of the Nation Address in Parliament.

The lawmaker was put on the spot by President Kenyatta but he remained sitted as the rest of the Parliamentarians honoured the fallen soldiers in a moment of silence.

Bosire said he learnt on Monday that his bodyguards had been withdrawn with no explanation from the Interior and Coordination Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery.

Bosire stated that he had sued the CS and the matter would be heard in court on Tuesday.

“We lost our security today as it was withdrawn as I came to learn earlier this morning. No explanation, no any other detail, no communication. We had to seek for our rights. So we have been to court, tomorrow the matter will be considered [sic],” Bosire said.

On whether the withdrawal was due to his actions in the August House, Bosire indicated that the move ‘would amount to punitive behaviour and intimidation’, adding that he had already explained why he did not stand up.

Bosire had earlier stated that he refused to stand in Parliament because he did not want to appease the public and “sweep under the carpet” the troubles that Kenyan soldiers in Somalia were facing.

This comes a few weeks after the security detail of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho was withdrawn, with CS Nkaissery asserting that the move was part of a Government plan to cut down on the number of officers assigned to Governors.