President Uhuru Kenyatta has been assigned a new aide de camp (personal assistant) following a minor reshuffle by the Ministry of Defence.
Lt. Col Victor Mburu is the President's new personal assistant and was first seen with the Head of State on Sunday during at church service in Kajiado County.
He takes over from Col Peter Njiru, who had served as a Presidential aide for more than five years - in Kibaki's regime and Uhuru's first term in office.
Prior to his promotion, Lt Col Mburu served as an officer at 12th battalion Thika.
The President personally picks his aide-de-camp from a short list of presented to him by the Chief of Staff.
Confirming the reshuffle, Defence Ministry spokesman Bogita Ongeri noted that the change was made occasionally to allow for career progression of officers, adding that selection of a new aide de camp was done after consultation with the National Defence Council.
“The period of which the Aide-de-Camp will serve will depend on several issues, including age, but most of them serve in that capacity for three years,” he stated.
Mr Ongeri further noted that the aide de camp's work involved escorting the president out of State House into the waiting car, opening the door then saluting when the president sits.
The personal assistant would also be charged with handling and carrying President Kenyatta’s personal items such gifts, speeches and others.
“He is like the President’s bodyguard and must at all time, be aware of the Commander in Chief’s (President’s) itinerary,” Ongeri stated.
Lt Col Mburu will be required to shift to State House to maintain close proximity with the president.
The personal assistant is usually a military officer in ceremonial uniform and always stands behind the President. He is the personal assistant to the president in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief.
Whenever the President stands or seats down, the aide de camp shoots to attention and salutes.
