Nairobi News

Bill Arocho, the private bouncer to former president Uhuru Kenyatta, has called it quits on a career of providing security for very important persons.

Arocho, who also protected Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga and Nairobi gubernatorial candidate Polycarp Igathe, has exited the stage after more than two decades in the job.

In an exclusive interview with Nairobi News on December 22, 2022, the burly Mr Arocho, 47, said he had decided to call it a day on his career due to his age because the job has a lot of running and a lot of physical activities involved; and because his friend, former president Uhuru Kenyatta retired.

He had especially been visible during the 2013 and 2017 elections in which Uhuru Kenyatta successfully vied for the presidency with William Ruto as his deputy, and in the 2022 presidential election in which Uhuru Kenyatta backed Raila Odinga’s candidacy over William Ruto’s.

Speaking on Raila Odinga’s presidential election loss in the 2022 General Election, Mr Arocho revealed the result was a very big blow to the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance camp that had fronted him.

“I was in Uhuru’s government on two occasions. When he vied and won, and when he retained his seat. If I’m asked to compare the two- Uhuru’s campaign and Raila’s campaign, it’s like day and night. Uhuru’s campaign was well-oiled, and well coordinated. They had one purpose, one chain of command unlike this other one that lacked order. Raila’s campaign lacked coordination. The general feeling after he lost was a disappointment- for me. I was used to winning and this was the first time I lost. This was an obvious one because we thought we were going to win easily,” explained Arocho.

“All that happened and (President) Ruto won, and we accepted and moved on. Personally, I joined (Ruto’s) UDA (United Democratic Alliance party) because Ruto is a friend, he was my deputy party leader and is a personal friend; and also because of the ministers who were appointed like Moses Kuria and Kipchumba Murkomen. The difference of party was that they were in Kenya Kwanza and I was in Azimio- that was politics and it passed so we had to move on. I have to work with my friends who won, like (Prime CS) Mudavadi, because they know me – most of the people appointed are my friends,” added Mr Arocho on why he swiftly decamped to the ruling party after Raila’s loss.

He also said he was sure that President William Samoei Ruto was going to serve Kenyans for two terms because there are a lot of things to admire in the fifth President of the Republic of Kenya. Since decamping to UDA, Mr Arocho has been full of praises for President Ruto and has been advocating for Ruto to serve for ten years.

“If tycoons, billionaires, and Azimio top decision-makers and the so-called political big wigs and honchos at the INAWEZEKANA camp are scampering all over each other at State House for a glimpse of Onjelo Wuo Sugoi this way, then who am I a mere bouncer from Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate keen to serve His Excellency in any capacity doing wrong?” he posed.

“And then you will come and say that I am only thinking of my stomach. #Rutomutaalal (Ruto for five more years),” Arocho posted on social media on December 15, 2022.

As he exits the security detail scene, Mr Arocho said he could not imagine providing private security services for another ten years. He also revealed he intended to venture into another line of work but would not disclose what nature it was. He, however, assured this reporter that he would soon announce it to the public.