• Yiampoy has been serving as the head of security in the Office of the Deputy President for a decade.
Long-serving head of security in the office of President William Ruto was on Friday promoted and named the new Presidential Escort Unit Commandant.
Assistant Inspector General of Police Oloonkishu Yiampoy has served Ruto since he was the Deputy President.
He takes over from Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Josphat Mputhia Kirimi, who has been promoted to the National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Kirimi takes over from Charlton Mureithi, who passed on in August after an illness.
Kirimi worked as the commander of the General Service Unit’s Recce Squad, which is responsible for the president’s security.
Yiampoy has been serving as the head of security in the Office of the Deputy President for a decade.
An expert in VIP protection, having served in the Presidential Escort for 26 years, the new commandant is a graduate of Egerton University.
Recce Squad is detailed to protect the President, his family and the Deputy President.
They are specially trained for VIP protection.
For Yiampoy, the promotion is seen as a reward for his loyalty to the President.
More than 20 other officers who served under Ruto while he was the DP were recently promoted on merit.
They include those who protected First Lady Rachael Ruto. He is currently the most-guarded VIP in the country.
Together with his family, the President has about 200 security guards from the GSU. State House and state lodges are guarded by officers from GSU’s G-Company.
PEU is a fully-fledged team, which can handle the movement of the President and his family anytime.
They, however, usually get the help of the local police whenever the President visits.
As part of security measures, they don’t allow armed police officers, especially those with rifles, at the events, apart from their members.
Whenever the President moves, the local police commander has to ensure the movement is guarded. If he addresses a gathering, tens of local officers are deployed.
The President enjoys some of the best police officers’ services as they are drawn from various units and trained on a common agenda.
Other than police officers, officials from the National Intelligence Service also provide crucial services to the President.