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‘Madharau yalioje?’ Netizens react as some security guards sit on grass during State House meeting
06th August, 2026 12:16 PM
Photos shared online from President William Ruto’s meeting with private security guards at State House, Nairobi, have sparked intense reactions across social media platforms.
While the event was meant to address the welfare of the country’s private security personnel, many Kenyans quickly noticed the contrast in how the attendees were seated compared with other delegations the Head of State had hosted throughout the week.
Earlier in the week, other guests at State House enjoyed proper indoor tent setups with chairs. For the security officers, however, many had to sit on the open lawn under the sun.
The images touched a nerve online, with many stating that the seating arrangement reflected the everyday disrespect faced by security officers, popularly known as sojas. Reacting to the photo on Facebook, one user captured the frustration of many, writing, “Wamekalishwa Kwa nyasi aky, madharau yalioje.”
Busy week at State House
The gathering brought together thousands of private security officers working across the capital. President Ruto shared the event on his official social media platforms, simply captioning the live stream, “Nairobi Security Guards, State House.”
The event was part of a busy week of meetings at the presidential residence. On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, the Head of State hosted Muslim religious leaders.
Photos from the events show previous delegations being given shaded, fully sheltered seating, a difference that further fuelled the online discussion around how low-income workers are handled.
Big promises on wages and welfare
Beyond the seating debate, the event brought back focus on how the government handles guard pay and rights. For a long time, the private security sector in Kenya has struggled with low salaries, long shifts, and missing statutory benefits.
The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) previously issued a directive requiring security firms to pay a minimum gross monthly salary of Ksh30,000, up from the Ministry of Labour’s Ksh15,201 baseline.
The directive, first introduced in November 2023 and enforced through 2024 compliance deadlines, faced strong pushback from security company owners who cited high operational costs and challenged it in court.
To force compliance, PSRA required firms to submit legal guarantees and register officers for mandatory Guard Force Numbers (GFN), threatening Ksh2 million fines or licence cancellations for non-compliant companies.
At State House, President Ruto addressed the standoff directly, assuring guards that his administration is pushing to resolve the court disputes and fully implement the wage reforms.
