General Robert Kibochi, Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, graduates today with a Doctor of Philosophy (Peace and Conflict Management) degree at Kenyatta University.
This makes him the first sitting army Chief to graduate with such a degree.
He thanked God for supporting him on his long studying journey. He also expressed his gratitude to his family and friends for their unconditional encouragement.
“For this (graduation) I am grateful to God and everyone who offered me support throughout the journey. I want to single out my family and colleagues for their moral support through the five-year journey,” Kibochi said.
The General also confessed how difficult it had been for him studying for his PHD, as it required tremendous sacrifice. He also encouraged the youth to be open to growing their expertise so as to be better members of society and have meaningful impact not only on their own local communities but also on the whole world if possible.
“The journey has been long and demanding due to the nature of my work. However, I was able to create time to cover a wide and complex scope. Hopefully, my efforts will motivate the young leaders towards seeking knowledge, which is necessary for a dynamic and complex security environment like we are currently in,” he continued.
The focal point of Kibochi’s PhD thesis was on boosting peace and stability in East Africa through the working together of the region’s security forces.
“I am delighted and honoured to be conferred with a Doctorate of Philosophy degree by Kenyatta University focusing on the stabilisation of the Eastern Africa Region in the consolidation of collective security institutions”, the General said.
The KDF boss also holds a Master’s Degree in International Studies and Computer information systems.
