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Security protocols for a presidential event are not casual arrangements.
They involve multiple layers of personnel, including advance teams that survey venues days beforehand, sniper teams covering sightlines, plainclothes officers mingling with crowds, uniformed police maintaining perimeter control, and the elite Presidential Security Unit forming the final ring around the principal.
For a civilian to reach the podium, several of these layers must have failed simultaneously.
When the President visits a region, an advanced crew usually travels ahead to map out the routes and assess security conditions.
They also plan for alternative routes in case changes have to be made on the go. The advance team, comprising NIS and the G company, will also conduct a dry run to test their security plan and look for weaknesses.
They will sit with the region’s security committee and also plan ahead, gauging the number of people who will attend, what the weather conditions will be like on that particular day, and the political temperature of the region.
Presidential security has three layers. The National Intelligence Service is at the forefront as it gathers information, analyses the data, and predicts trends.
The Presidential Escort Services and the G Company, all drawn from the dreaded General Service Unit, move with the President, aided by the Kenya Defence Forces.
Kenya Police offer ground support in terms of general onsite surveillance and crowd control. They also offer deterrence services since the presence of many uniformed officers usually deters mischief.
The police, usually locally based in the function or regions the President goes, are usually prepared for any eventualities and, in some cases, can keep away troublesome elements who they believe might want to disrupt the meeting.
Plain clothes police officers also embed themselves in crowds so as to offer the best security for the Head of State.
Close presidential protection is split within two units of the elite GSU unit, the Prescort and the G Company.
