Assistant Inspector General of Police, Oloonkishu Yiampoy, was on Friday, October 21, promoted to head the Presidential Escort Unit.
Yiampoy took over as the new Presidential Escort Unit Commandant replacing Josphat Mputhia Kirimi, who was deployed to the National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Before his promotion, Yiampoy served as the head of security in the Office of the Deputy President for over ten years.
The Egerton University graduate also served in different presidential units for over 26 years.
According to National Police Service (NPS), the new Presidential Escort Unit Commandant will lead the security team protecting Ruto.
He will also be charged with providing security to the first family and visiting heads of state.
The Presidential Escort Unit comprising officers drawn from the General Service Unit's Recce squad, also protects Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and other VIPs as directed by the Inspector-General.
The unit was established by the National Police Act Section 24 following the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
Its officers are highly trained and receive personalised, intense paramilitary training, then deployed to the GSU Guard ‘G’ Company.
Among the skills they specialise in are handling firearms, defensive driving, detonating explosives, hostage rescue operations and handling crowds.
While leading the team, Yiampoy will employ different strategies, including ensuring the wedge, V-shaped formation is used to shield Ruto's motorcade, coordinating with the police at the state and other events and shielding the president at highly crowded events.
Yiampoy will collaborate with Ruto's aide de camp, Colonel Fabian Lengusuranga, to effectively execute his duties.
