The event had been organised in honour of Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs and drew hundreds of residents, local leaders and government officials.
The incident occurred as President Ruto was in the middle of his speech.
In scenes witnessed by the crowd and captured on camera, the young man suddenly made his way toward the podium, catching security officers and attendees by surprise.
The unexpected intrusion briefly interrupted the President’s address and caused moments of tension among those present.
Members of the presidential security team quickly intervened, restraining the man before escorting him away from the stage.
President Ruto was forced to pause his speech as security officers moved swiftly to contain the situation and restore calm at the venue.
Despite the tense moment, the President appealed to his security personnel not to mistreat the young man. His remarks appeared to calm the situation as the event resumed shortly afterwards.
The motive behind the man’s actions was not immediately established, and authorities had not issued an official statement on the incident by Sunday evening.
Videos circulating online showed the moment the individual approached the podium before security officers moved in.
The footage sparked reactions from Kenyans online, with some questioning how the man managed to get close to the Head of State despite the heavy security usually surrounding presidential events.
Others, however, praised the restraint shown by the President and his security team after the man was subdued without further confrontation.
Presidential events are typically guarded by heavily armed security personnel, with access to the podium area restricted to authorised individuals and officials cleared in advance.
The thanksgiving ceremony later continued without further disruption, with leaders present proceeding with speeches and prayers in honour of PS Jacobs.