Kenya Deputy President Ruto's home entered by knifeman Published duration 29 July 2017 Related Topics Kenya general election 2017

media caption Security forces had surrounded the compound

A man armed with a machete has forced his way into the rural home of Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto after wounding a police guard, police say.

Mr Ruto and his family were not at the compound near the western city of Eldoret at the time.

Specialist troops had been deployed to deal with the intruder, who was hiding in a partially-constructed building, police said.

Earlier reports suggested a number of gunmen had entered Mr Ruto's home.

"In circumstances that are yet unclear, he hit an officer on duty with a machete and managed to enter the farm complex," National Police Inspector General Joseph Boinnet said in a statement.

image copyright Reuters image caption Mr Ruto was not at home when the attack took place

There were also reports of gunfire. The wounded police officer was in a stable condition, police said.

The incident comes 10 days before Kenya holds presidential, legislative and regional elections.

The deputy president had left hours earlier for a campaign rally in the town of Kitale, where he joined President Uhuru Kenyatta.

image copyright Reuters image caption Mr Ruto's home in Sugoi village near the city of Eldoret

Mr Kenyatta is seeking re-election next month.

While Kenya's 2013 elections passed relatively peacefully, there was serious post-election violence following the 2007 polls, which left more than 1,000 people dead and 600,000 displaced from their homes.