Such travels require adequate logistical planning to ensure the president’s trip is not interrupted. The President’s limousine and his fleet of vehicles to be used during such trips have to be moved early.
A former presidential escort officer intimated to kenyagist.com that whenever the president travels to say Mombasa by air, his escort vehicles travel by road, save for his special car that is transported under tight security via the Standard Gauge Railway.
“The presidential limousine is special and doesn’t travel by road to coast. It is usually transported discreetly as cargo on the SGR. Other cars such as the Toyota Land Cruisers and escort vehicles travel by road.
“His Toyota Land Cruiser’s coat of arms is usually masked unless he is in the car. Sometimes other road users may think it’s a governor or other government official, but a presidential limousine is too conspicuous to travel to Mombasa by road,†the ex-GSU officer disclosed.
Inside the State House garage lies a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard which is often used for ceremonies.
Other times, President Kenyatta prefers to use the 4×4 vehicles which are adapted to access remote areas of the country as opposed to the limo which is limited to tarmac roads.
The Head of State has more than 300 specially trained officers at his disposal who work in shifts to avoid exhaustion especially when he has a tightly packed schedule like witnessed in recent days.
Vehicles acquired by State House over time are also not disposed of, but are instead kept safely for use should need to arise.
A past Christmas event saw select children allowed to see and even play inside vehicles once used by the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi.
President Kenyatta’s travels also require a lot of logistical planning and often involve scouting and securing the locations before the scheduled date.
Whenever the president is travelling to different destinations as it has happened recently, the large team helps them rejuvenate and work efficiently.
Since September the President has been to Mombasa, Lamu, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Kisii, Kisumu, Nyeri, and Kajiado counties.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
