Piece by: MAUREEN KINYANJUI

20 September 2022

• Uhuru made history as the first Kenyan Head of State to have an assistant female ADC Rachel Nduta Kamui.

• An Aide is expected to follow the President whenever he goes out on official duties.

An aide-de-camp is a military officer whose role is mostly ceremonial; to give the presidency dignity and honour.

He is expected to follow the President whenever he goes out on official duties.

Kenya has had several ADC who started with the founding father of the nation, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

He was later replaced by Major (Rtd)Marsden Madoka Major Samuel Macharia.

In 1978 when the late and former President Daniel Arap Moi took over in 1978 with Major Macharia, a carryover from Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

In his 24 years of presidency, Moi had a total of six ADCs.

Macharia was replaced by Major Peter Ngugi Ikenye who was followed by Colonel Wilson Boinett.

Boinett later rose to become the Director General of the National Security Intelligence Service.

After Boinett, came Colonel Alexander Sitienei from the Tank Battalio then Lt Col Jonathan Rono.

He was then followed by then Lt. Col Jonathan Rono.

Colonel Stephen Boiywo was Moi's ADC when he retired in 2002.

His successor, former president Uhuru Kenyatta continued with Col Mburu after he took over as Commander in Chief in 2013.

In his 10-year rule, Uhuru has had three ADCs.

Mburu in 2018 was replaced by Brigadier Timothy Stelu Lekolol from the Kenya Navy.

This was the first time that an ADC was coming from the navy.

Kenyatta’s ADC was Lt. Col. (Rtd) Samuel Ngure Matu who passed away in July 2022 at 82 years.

As ADC, Ngure was tasked with serving as the personal assistant to Kenya's founding president and bringing the Head of State up to speed with what was happening countrywide.

According to Defence, the change is effected from time to time because of the career progression of officers.

The selection of Aide-de-Camp is normally done after consultation with the National Defence Council.

It is believed that the period in which the Aide-de-Camp will serve will depend on several issues, including age, but most of them serve in that capacity for three years.

When the late and former President Mwai Kibaki came into power, he started off with Lt-Col Josiah Mrashui as his ADC, who was then replaced by Lt-Col Godfrey King’angi who was former Mbeere South MP.

He was later replaced by Col Peter Njiru and then Col Victor Mburu until Kibaki retired.

The same year, Uhuru made history as the first Kenyan Head of State to have an assistant female ADC Rachel Nduta Kamui.

Lekolol was Uhuru's ADC until September 13, 2022, when William Ruto ascended to power.

Other key roles an ADC performs away from the obvious perceived standing behind the President and opening doors when the Head of State travels include