Did Uhuru also wear bullet-proof vest at State House?
State House has denied claims that President Uhuru Kenyatta wore a bullet-proof vest during an event at the house on the hill on Friday morning.
A picture uploaded on President Kenyatta’s official Facebook page shows what looks like an armoured vest covered by a cardigan and a jacket.
Several bloggers have shared the image, speculating that the president was distrusting his security detail.
The head of state was meeting pupils under the Pupils Reward Scheme (PURES) mentoring program, which is a joint venture with the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.
But reached for comment, both State House director of public communication Munyori Buku and digital communication director Dennis Itumbi denied the claims.
“Nope,” said Mr Buku.
Mr Itumbi added: “No, it was not a bullet-proof vest.”
A source said the jacket is creased because as it was bought from a mitumba (second hand clothes) seller in Gatundu market two months ago.
Last month, President Kenyatta suffered the ultimate embarrassment following reports that Italy PM Matteo Renzi went to State House wearing a similar bullet proof vest.
A picture on social media showed what looks like corner-shaped outfit underneath the PM’s slim fit Italiain suit. PM Renzi was shaking hands with State House staff as President Kenyatta looks on.
The Italian government later confirmed the PM wore a bullet proof vest to State House, Nairobi due to security concerns.
However, an Italian government official told to CNN that PM Renzi wore a bullet proof vest inside State House because of a ‘tight schedule’, not because of security.
“Apparently, he didn’t have time to take it off,” said the official, who did not wish to be named.