Curtain falls on former President Moi's guard

With his 48 years of experience, Leonard Yator was easily the longest serving member of the elite Presidential Escort Unit.

The former officer, who died yesterday, joined the police force at the tender age of 20 years back in 1952. Upon completing training, Yator was deployed as a driver in the police service.

After independence in 1963, Yator, then a police constable, was moved to President Jomo Kenyatta’s escort detail as a driver.

Before his death, Yator would clearly recall being assigned the duty of dropping President Kenyatta’s son, Uhuru - now the fourth president of Kenya - to and from school from their Gatundu home.

Common figure

Yator was a common figure in all presidential tours locally and abroad during retired President Daniel arap Moi’s era, his tall imposing figure faithfully standing guard a step away from the president.

Before he retired in 2000 at the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police, Yator had served under several presidential escort commanders among them Elijah Sumbeiywo, Charles Kimurgor, Stanley Kiptum Manyinya and Samson Cherambos.

Cherambos, under whose tenure Yator retired, described him as a trusted officer who worked with dedication and provided services to the country under several commanders.

“He was a special civil servant who was disciplined and trusted. We have lost one of the longest serving civil servants who was also honest in his service,” said Cherambos.

Away from duty, Yator rarely spoke about his work.

“My father was conservative, spoke little, but loved his duties under retired President Moi,” said Rhoda Yator, his last born daughter.

Relatives and friends said he was such a stickler for details that at some point he chose to stitch his earlobes, which had been pieced in line with tradition, to avoid being sidetracked by curious bystanders while accompanying the president on local and international trips.

His two wives, Susan and Christine, and sister, Sarah Kosgei, described him as a family man who ensured his children received the best education and supported his extended family and neighbours.

“Yator was more than a husband. He was a very close friend. He ensured all-round protection for our family irrespective of his tight schedule in his security roles,” said Christine.

She described her husband as a close confidant of retired President Moi, whom he diligently served, first when he was vice president and later after he became president.

The only thing that Yator was averse to in the line of duty was politics. The career policeman believed he could serve better outside politics.

This saw him play a leading role in various projects back home in Chuiyat location in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, including a local dispensary at Chuiyat and a secondary school named after him.

He also supported several churches and chaired several school boards, but kept out of politics.

“He would not be dragged into politics even by leaders who visited him,” said Christine.

And visitors did flock to Yator’s home.

Christine remembers a day Uhuru Kenyatta, then a finance minister, dropped by to greet the family during a tour in Uasin Gishu County.

According to wife Christine, Yator died of heart complications at a hospital in Eldoret yesterday. He left two widows, seven children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Kesses MP Swarup Misra condoled with the family, saying the nation had lost a great icon.

“On my own behalf and on behalf of my great people of Kesses constituency, I want to convey my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and the entire nation for the fall of a great icon,” Misra posted on his official Facebook page.