Career success is an envy for those who dare dream and partake, however, it is not often that we see it come to people across multiple fields. But when it does, it often lays testament to the limits one can push themselves to with the right attitude and focus.

In this instance the story of William Oloonkishu Yiampoy who serves as head of the crack Presidential Escort Unit (PEU), is nothing short of inspirational.

Prior to his now high-ranking national security role, Yiampoy represented Kenya as an athlete on several occasions. He had preference for the 800 metres track event. He won Gold in the 2004 African championships in Brazzaville, Congo and won bronze in the 2005 World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

Background & Education

Yiampoy was born in Emarti village, Narok County on May 17, 1974.

A bit of Yiampoy's background and upbringing is captured by Havard and Columbia University-schooled journalist John Manners in a bio he wrote for the World Athletics years ago.

He wrote that despite a number of Maasai runners being exposed to Western cultures by their families, Yiampoy's father was keen to raise him in line with customary Maasai traditions.

"His father, ole Yiampoy, a celebrated warrior and cattle raider in his youth, could see no point in Western education or sport, and only when pressed by local government authorities did he agree to send any of his children to school.

"Even then, he refused to part with any of his favored children lest they be lost or corrupted. Instead he chose scrawny little William. But when reports reached him that his son was repeatedly ranked at the top of his class, his attitude began to change," Manners wrote in the bio.

Yiampoy graduated from Sosio High School in Kilgoris, Trans Mara in 1989, and enlisted for the Kenya Police Service in 1991.

Athletics & Police careers

After joining the force, Yiampoy steadily rose through the ranks joining the covetted PEU in 1997. He served diligently under the office of Deputy President until his appointment to the Office of the President in 2022.

Yiampoy did not start running until 1996 after joining the police. While at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo, he developed a keen interest in the sport and his breakthrough would come in 1999.

The security chief was at the time under the tutelage of Italian, Gianni Demadonna, a silver medalist in the 1987 New York Marathon. Yiampoy enjoyed training camps in various parts of the country and even in Verona, Italy.

In the summer of 1999, Yiampoy ran 9 European races mainly small meets and in 2000, despite falling at the trials for team Kenya ahead of the Sydney Olympics, he would later be called up to replace the then-ailing Patrick Konchella. He finished fifth in the semi-finals while suffering after effects of Malaria. 

Yiampoy kicked off 2001 with a win in the Goodwill Games running the 800 metres race. He would later win the 2001 World Championships trials and finished fourth in the Edmonton finals.

In 2002, the former athlete won silver at the African Championships. He would later win gold running the 800m at the 2004 African Games in Brazzaville, Congo. 

He was third at the 2005 World Championships, and fourth at the 2005 World Athletics Final, all in the 800 metres. He ran on a Kenyan 4x800 team that set the world record for that event, running 7:02.43 at the Van Damme Memorial in Bruxelles in 2006.

"Yiampoy is the latest in a line of brilliant Maasai 800-metre runners that dates back 20 years and includes not only the two-time World Champion Billy Konchellah but also his brother Patrick, the 1994 Commonwealth Champion, Stephen ole Marai, the 1987 World Championship finalist, and Billy's son Gregory Konchellah (Youssef Saad Kamel of Bahrain). All come from Yiampoy's home area, Kilgoris," Manners wrote in the bio.

Yiampoy returned to law enforcement after retiring from athletics.

Presidential Escort Unit (PEU)

Yiampoy gave his all as an athlete and in his police career, diligence can best describe his meteoric rise through the ranks to become President William Ruto's most trusted officer.

Prior to his appointment as head of PEU, Yiampoy was the assistant inspector general of police. He took over from Josephat Kirimi who was elevated to head the National Focal Point on Small Arms and Weapons.