President William Ruto was immediately ushered into the presidential motorcade by his aide-de-camp Brigadier Stelu Lekolol after he was sworn in as the new head of state on Tuesday, September 13.
His motorcade formed an arrowhead formation, a defence mechanism used when the president is moving through low-risk crowds.
However, what stood out from the convoy was a car with a device resembling a TV antenna erected at the top, a convoy jammer.
How Convoy Jammer is Used
The convoy jammer on top of the car is essential to the president's security detail. It is based on active and reactive jamming technology.
Its antennas are specifically designed to interfere with radio noise or signals.
The state-of-the-art technology is designed for blocking remote-controlled improvised explosive devices used by extremist groups who might target the presidential motorcade.
Convoy jammers also protect the President from dangerous rays.
It is also used when there is a necessity to block individuals from tracing Ruto's motorcade by transmitting a unique noise signal that creates a firewall between the transmitter and the receiver.
The convoy jammer in Ruto's convoy is controlled by a remote device located near the driver’s seat.
"The jamming signal is generated by Multi-VCO chain which results in very high sweeping rate along the bands hence create high RF density in each part of the protected frequency band," Phantom Technologies, one of the device manufacturers, described its working process.
Apart from using convoy jammers, the President's motorcade employs different tactic formations. His security team uses box formation in high-risk crowds. Ruto is kept at the centre while navigating through a gathering.
The team also uses one-on-one and wedge formation, especially in low-risk areas. While forming the formations, each unit in the motorcade performs different tasks.
Route cars race ahead to scan the highway and coordinate with police to block traffic. Sweeper cars are the motorcycles that lead the motorcade and the lead car carries the presidential escort unit commander.
The Convoy jammer falls in the backup part of Ruto's convoy.
Apart from moving formation, the motorcade consists of decoy cars that prevent anyone from easily identifying the exact car the president is riding in.
The team that will oversee Ruto's movement in the next five years comprise the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), General Service Unit (GSU), RECCE Company and the presidential escort.
