To many ordinary Kenyans, Presidential Aide-De-Camp (ADC) is the official bodyguard of the Head of State.
This public view is due to the fact Aide-De-Camp is ever present in all presidential functions.
Oftentimes, Aide-De-Camp is seen escorting the president wherever he goes, and opening car doors for the head of state.
Former Presidential Aide-De-Camp Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka, while appearing on NTV's Wicked Edition in November 2022, explained that most of the things that ordinary people claim to know about ADC are complete fabrications and misconceptions.
"An ADC is not a bodyguard. His role is not to look after the president in terms of safeguarding him," Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka explained.
Aide-De-Camp's salutation is always conspicuous, especially, before and after every action such as when the President is sitting or standing up.
A presidential Aide-De-Camp is also responsible for receiving gifts for the President and carrying personal items like mobile phones and speeches to be delivered at official and public functions.
1. Abilities
Misconception:
Kenyans on the street believe that Aide-De-Camp is a special soldier that is exceptionally trained to take on any kind of threat against the President.
Popularly referred to as 'Story za Jaba', some Kenyans even believe that an ADC has the ability to see past what normal humans can see.
Fact:
While it is true that an Aide-De-Camp is a well-trained soldier who is strong enough to attend to the immediate needs of the president, it is not true that the ADC can do what his fellow soldiers are not able to accomplish.
Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka explained that Aide-De-Camp does not have to a be strong person with rare abilities.
He noted that as long as the person is a soldier, and has gone through the necessary training, he or she is fit to serve as ADC.
Asked if it is the work of the ADC to take the president's bullet in case of a disastrous attack, Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka simply responded that "it is not the ADC's job."
"However, if anything happens to my boss I would die there with him. You can't run away from your boss," Madoka noted.
Major (Rtd) Madoka explained that part of the Aide-De-Camp's training before beginning his responsibility as an Assistant to the President is to know the working designs for the head of state.
"The ADC also receives communication from other people to the President, as part of his job," Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka explained.
2. Responsibilities
Misconception:
Aide-De-Camp is the official bodyguard of the President, and he possesses some abilities that can prevent any form of threat to the Head of State.
Fact:
Aide-De-Camp is an extraordinary soldier by qualities but not a security officer as widely thought by many Kenyans.
Aide-De-Camp is not part of those guarding the president but a personal assistant to the head of state, and he or she is meant to give dignity and honour to the presidency.
"The police commander has his team which is responsible for guarding the president," Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka explained.
The person selected by Military Commanders to serve as Aide-De-Camp will then work with the Presidential Escort Unit Commander, who is a senior assistant commissioner of police.
A Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police is the person responsible for providing security to the President and his close family members.
On Friday, October 21, 2022, President William Ruto promoted the long-serving head of security in his office to serve as head of the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) Commandant.
Assistant Inspector General of Police Oloonkishu Yiampoy is an expert in VIP protection having served in the Presidential Escort for 26 years.
