Former Presidential Escort Unit Commandant, Josephat Kirimi Mbuthia ( Photo Courtesy)

For four years, had anything happened to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, his chief bodyguard Josephat Kirimi Mbuthia would be answerable.

This is how this Recce Squad commando was influential in Uhuru's personal safety. Being the head of the President's security is no doubt the biggest moment of his career as a cop.

Mbuthia had been appointed as the Presidential Escort Unit Commander in 2018 to succeed Mohamed Bashane who had been posted to GSU headquarters as the unit deputy commandant.

He had worked as head of Uhuru's security following his appointment to succeed Edward Njoroge Mbugua who had been moved to police headquarters and appointed as the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Kenya Police Service wing.

Prior to his appointment as the PEU boss, Mbuthia was serving as Commandant, Recce Squad company, an elite GSU unit based in Ruiru.

In 2022, just weeks after Uhuru's State House exit, the whole presidential security was overhauled as President William Ruto got new security chief. This paved way for William Oloonkishu Yiampoi, head of Ruto's security for the entire period of his time as Deputy President, to take over as the new PEU boss.

As for Mbuthia, he was posted to the lowly National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons and appointed as its director.