Kenya’s President William Ruto has elevated Lt Gen Charles Muriu Kahariri to the position of General and designated him as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) after the tragic passing of Gen Francis Ogolla in a helicopter accident.
Kenya’s military landscape is shifting with a series of promotions and appointments announced by President William Ruto. Lt Gen Charles Muriu Kahariri has been named the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) following the tragic demise of Gen Francis Ogolla in a helicopter crash.
Alongside this change, Maj-Gen John Mugaravai Omenda has been promoted to Lt-Gen and appointed as the Vice Chief of Defence Forces. Notably, this promotion marks a milestone as it brings forward the first woman service commander, with Maj-Gen Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed stepping up as the Kenya Air Force Commander.
Furthermore, Maj-Gen Thomas Ng’ang’a, who currently serves as the Kenya Navy commander, is set to assume the role of Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance at the National Defence University-Kenya. His position at the Navy will be filled by Maj-Gen Paul Owuor Otieno.
The list of promotions continues with Brigadier Peter Nyamu Githinji moving up to the rank of Maj-Gen and taking on the role of Senior Directing Staff, Air at the National Defence College. Brigadier Jattani Kampare Gula and Brigadier George Okumu have also been promoted to Major Generals, with Gula appointed as Managing Director of the Kenya Meat Commission and Okumu as Managing Director of the Kenya Ordinance Factories Corporation and Food Processing Factory.
In addition, Brigadier Samuel Kipkosgei Korir has been designated as the Deputy Commander of the Kenya Air Force. The leadership lineup also includes Lt-Gen Jimson Longiro Mutai as Vice Chancellor of the National Defence University-Kenya, Lt-Gen David Kimaiyo Tarus as Kenya Army Commander, and Lt-Gen Juma Shee Mwinyikai as Commandant of the National Defence College.
Before his promotion to CDF, Lt-Gen Kahariri served as the deputy commandant at the National Defence College. It’s worth noting that the Kenya Army commander is currently the only one holding the rank of Lt-Gen, with his counterparts leading their units as major generals.
Regarding retirement and tenure, the KDF Act outlines that a CDF, their deputy, and service commanders serve a single four-year term or retire upon reaching the mandatory retirement age. However, the Act allows the President, upon recommendation from the National Defence Council, to extend the CDF’s term by up to one year.
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Age plays a significant role, with retirement ages set at 62 for generals, 61 for lieutenant generals, 59 for major generals, and 57 for brigadiers. The Act also empowers the President to remove, retire, or redeploy military leaders before their term ends.
“The President may remove, retire or redeploy the Chief of the Defence Forces, the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces or any of the Service Commanders at any time before the expiry of the term of office,” the Act says.
The appointment process considers factors like seniority, education, and military experience. The Defence Council, chaired by Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, plays a pivotal role in recommending names to the President and overseeing KDF policy formulation and implementation.
These changes in leadership signal a strategic shift within Kenya’s defence sector, with a focus on continuity, expertise, and effective governance across military ranks and roles.
