Revealed: Why Gunshots Were Heard In Nairobi [VIDEO]

On Monday, April 24, videos emerged on Twitter showing commotion at the Presidential Escort Team’s Highridge camp in Parklands, Nairobi and gunshots renting the air which caused panic among residents.

The news about the commotion was first reported by a concerned resident who recorded the proceedings and shared them online.

In a video seen by Viral Tea, commotion ensued from the highly protected area coupled with the gunshot sounds which took many Kenyans by surprise.

Meanwhile, security officers were spotted from an aerial point of view dressed in their all-black suits making several movements at the entrance of the gate.

Here's the video:

Interest was first sparked by loud sirens blaring the air followed by the commotion as four high-end police vehicles sped out of the compound. Meanwhile, the men provided security for the motorcade while seeming to display tactics used in fighting oncoming threats.

A man who posed as a VVIP was whisked into a vehicle by two security officers as the rest engaged the attackers to contain the threat.

Another man fell onto a flowerbed after 'being shot' but got back on his feet a few seconds later.

"This looks like a drill. Observe how the lady is walking across the scene amid 'heavy gunfire' and the man pretending to have been shot," read a comment online.

Viral Tea established that the commotion was part of a security drill conducted by the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) team.

How The Presidential Escort Unit Works

According to the Constitution of Kenya, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto are entitled to the services of the PEU by way of being the top leaders in the country. 45 presidential escort officers are assigned to the deputy president while 200 officers are attached to the President.

The PEU is known to mesmerise many because of the sophistication with which it carries out its operations. It is composed of the Joint Operational Command (JOC) that makes sure that the security services to the president and his deputy are provided.

The officers are derived from the elite Recce squad, an elite paramilitary unit of the General Service Unit (GSU). They undergo an intense training program before being assigned to their respective roles. 

Among those deployed include explosive experts, snipers, defensive drivers, firearm handlers, intelligence experts, combat leaders and communication and information technology experts. 

Kenya borrows its formation from the US presidential motorcade and security experts reveal that the number of cars deployed and structures depends on the President's itinerary and level of risk during his travels.

Before embarking on the road, the team has to strategize on which routes to take and analyze their choke points, shortcuts and details such as the sun’s position because direct rays can make it harder to spot threats.

As much as the travel arrangements are meant to keep the president safe, the presidential motorcade is almost a tradition.

As seen in most cases, the officers create an arrowhead formation to shield the president or his deputy when their motorcades are in transit. The formation, however, changes from time to time. 

The riders, who lead the front, are trained to offer protection and detect potential danger. Apart from clearing traffic, they also dictate the pace of the motorcade.