Lieutenant-Colonel Damaris Agnetta: The assistant of President Ruto's Aide-de-Camp

Colonel Rachel Nduta (behind President William Ruto) has been redeployed to the Department of Defence Headquarters in Nairobi. [Standard]

In Kenya, as is the practice world-over, the president has the liberty to choose his or her Aide-de-Camp.

The serviceperson has to be a member of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Contrary to popular belief, the Aide-de-Camp is not a bodyguard or personal assistant to the Head of State.

Colonel Esther Wanjiku, the spokesperson of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), says the Aide-de-Camp is "a principal military officer serving the president".

"The Aide-de-Camp's roles include managing the president's diary and liaising with his or her main security team," Wanjiku told The Standard.

"The Defence Council can propose an Aide-de-Camp to the president, who has the last say on his preferred serviceman for the role," she added.

Former ADC Timothy Lekolool, now a Brigadier, has been moved to the Department of Defence Headquarters in Nairobi. [File, Standard]

Its literal meaning is "helper in the military camp".

The holder of the position serves as an aide to a VVIP, in most cases a Head of State or Monarch.

An ADC is a highly-trained senior military officer, who is required to be part of the president's itinerary at all times.

The holder of the position mostly performs ceremonial duties.

Besides the ceremonial tasks such as standing behind the president and opening car doors for the Head of State, an Aide-de-Camp in Kenya has other duties.

For instance, during Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure, Lekolool was the detail leader, assistant detail leader, tactical commander, motorcade lead, advance lead, mobile agent, static agent and protective intelligence agent.

Simiyu Werunga, the Executive Director for Geneva Centre for Africa Security, told The Standard that all Kenyan Aides-de-Camp held at least the rank of Colonel.

"Unlike the position of the Chief of Defence Forces, which rotates among senior military officers of the Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force or the Kenya Army, the Aide-de-Camp's background is immaterial when the president is selecting the serviceman for that position," said Werunga.

"A new president can choose to retain the current ADC, or appoint a new one altogether."

Werunga further said that it's the responsibility of the Defence Council to propose ADCs to new presidents.