When dealing with the First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) in any capacity, you have to be prepared for one of the most unconventional experiences of your life. The US presidents and their families are protected by the Secret Service, and due to the many attempts on their lives, most of which have been recorded, their security is not light talk amongst Secret Service agents.
Seeing them up close, you see mirror images of the ones you see in movies. Some in tactical vests, with earpieces, in dark sunglasses while outside. Those in enclosed spaces wore sardonic expressions on their faces, eyes darting around looking for anyone trying to be the villain (hero to some) and poised to neutralize any threat within seconds.
I was more than ready to hear phrases like "The asset is secure" and "I have eyes on Lancer." (Lancer is the secret service's code name for Dr Jill Biden). When it was announced that Dr Jill Biden would be visiting Kenya and Namibia on her first trip to Africa, I was excited. It was, however, an entirely different level of excitement when I was asked to cover her trip. I was eager to see what it would entail.
Once confirmed, I joined other reporters from local and international media on a conference call with the Secret Service, on which you had to input a code before being let into the call. That would be our first briefing, where we were given an overview of what the First Lady would be doing in Kenya and what her mission was. Dr Biden was expected on Friday and the call was on Tuesday.
The next day, we were sent a media advisory via email with instructions on how to RSVP, the details required, identification documents to carry to the airport and the make and model of the equipment you would be coming with. All RSVPs were to be received by 10 am Thursday.
My excitement reached stratospheric levels when I realised I would be embedded in her press team for the entirety of her tour. I would also be in her motorcade, which was reserved for only nine Kenyan journalists. If you were one of the nine (there were others accredited to cover her arrival), you also had to confirm exactly which days you would be available by 4 pm that day.
In case you had forgotten that covid exists, the FLOTUS' security detail most certainly does not. At the airport, the nine journalists who would be in the motorcade had to self-administer a covid test, something that we had to do- every day of her trip.
Of course, Terminal 2 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was closed to the public for more than half of Friday in anticipation of her arrival.
Despite the sweltering heat, accredited journalists, who arrived hours ahead of their scheduled arrival passed through three stages of security, with the first stage comprising two steps of equipment and bag screening - one with airport security utilizing two sniffer dogs to search for explosives, while the same items were passed through a scanner.
The second stage was similar to the first with the exception of sniffer dogs. Journalists had to get to a whole body scanner one by one. Airport staff had to go through a similar check at this stage.
The last stage was a thorough security check conducted by the secret service with menacing sniffer dogs, while they also individually went through journalists' equipment. Once cleared, each journalist received a blue pass, with the specific journalists accredited to be in her motorcade receiving red passes that everyone was instructed to ensure were visible at all times.
We were stationed on the airport runway 30 minutes before her arrival, once again with Secret Service Agents strategically positioned everywhere in the airport. Her arrival on the First Lady's special plane for this tour-Executive One Foxtrot, was breathtaking.
Dressed in a blue, flowy dress, she waved at everyone and descended the plane's steps accompanied by her granddaughter, Naomi Biden. We had been informed that she would be there for only a few minutes, and the minute we got the signal, the nine of us were to rush into our press van.
It happened very fast and if you missed this, you were on your own. TV reporters were not allowed to go live while in the motorcade that comprised over 30 cars. This, we learnt, was to avoid disclosing the First Lady's location. The motorcade moves at a speed too fast for Kenyan roads. Our press van had a camera near the rearview mirror.
It was absolutely surreal seeing what absolute privilege looks like, with roads closed and traffic stopped for the motorcade to pass, with many police officers stationed along the road and people watching.
At State House, her first stop, and every place she visited throughout her tour, our movements were very tightly controlled, down to a few steps. We would be instructed on exactly where to stand minute by minute and when to get going, which had to be done fast.
The next day, we received new, green passes, which meant that they could not be replicated and used by an unauthorized person. Chances are minuscule that you would succeed in getting through in that manner anyway, but the Secret Service does not take any chances.
She was staying at Villa Rosa Kempinski, and there would be similar thorough checks every time we arrived at the hotel, surrounded by Secret Service agents, Kenyan military officers and the police. Despite us starting our day from where she was staying -Kempinski, we never actually saw her on the premises or get in or leave. We were never sure which vehicle she would be in.
Watching her interact with the people, she is very warm and everyone who spoke to her opened up to her easily.
