President William Ruto’s deputy aide-de-camp has been replaced after less than two years of service.
Lieutenant Colonel Joan Osweto has replaced Colonel Damaris Agnetta Apondi who has been deployed to other duties in the military, according to people familiar with the matter.
Colonel Osweto was first publicly seen on duty on Thursday at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County as President Ruto attended the National Drama and Film Festival winners’ state concert.
She deputises President Ruto’s aide-de-camp, Colonel Fabian Lengusuranga.
Colonel Apondi was appointed in September 2022 after President Ruto assumed office, succeeding Lieutenant Colonel Rachel Nduta who served under President Uhuru Kenyatta.
An aide-de-camp is chosen by the President of his own volition and should be a member of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Despite being perceived as a bodyguard or personal assistant to the President, an aide-de-camp has more roles.
They are tasked with managing the president’s diary and liaising with his or her main security team.
An aide-de-camp is a principal military officer serving the president and is a highly-trained senior military officer who must be part of the president’s itinerary at all times.
The term “Aide-de-camp” is borrowed from French, which means “helper in the military camp”.
