A month after taking office, President William Ruto announced changes to his security detail, designating Oloonkishu Yiampoy, the then-Assistant Inspector General of Police, as the new Presidential Escort Unit commandant.
Yiampoy succeeded Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Josphat Mputhia Kirimi, who was appointed to National Focal Point for Small Arms and Light Weapons.
He has ten years of experience as the chief of security at the deputy president’s office before being appointed as commandant of the Presidential Escort Unit.
Yiampoy rose through the ranks of the police force after joining in 1991, gaining valuable expertise in VIP protection.
While many people know him as a respected officer, few are aware that he was also a former athlete who competed for his country in the Olympic Games and the World Athletic Championship.
He competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, representing Kenya in the 800M race, finishing fifth in the semi-finals in 1:45.88.
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In 2001, Yiampoy won Kenya’s World Championship trials in 1:44.24 and finished third in the Edmonton final in 1:44.96.
His other achievements include being Africa’s 800 metres champion (Brazzaville, 2004) and winning a bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.
During his time on the track, Yiampoy was recognized as a disciplined and determined athlete, a trait that has helped him advance in the ranks of the police service.
As head of President Ruto’s security team, he manages the president’s security detail, ensuring that each officer is in the appropriate place at all times and delegated duties to officers below him.
Yiampoy made headlines on February 24, 2024, during the funeral of late World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum, when he pulled aside an officer who appeared to be blocking the president’s route.
