Major shake-up in KDF as Army, Air Force get new commanders
Major General Ahmed made history as the first woman in the country to be promoted to the rank in 2018 and also to rise to the apex of the Kenya Air Force last year
President William Ruto has reshuffled the top ranks of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) promoting Major General David Kipkemboi Ketter to Lieutenant General and appointing him the new Commander Kenya Army.
He takes over from Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Chemwaina Tarus who has been redeployed to the National Defence University-Kenya (NDU-K) as Vice Chancellor. He was previously Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics.
On the recommendation of the Defence Council, which is chaired by Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, President Ruto also appointed Major General Bernard Waliaula as Commander Kenya Air Force taking over from Major General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed, who has retired after 42 years in the military.
Major General Ahmed made history as the first woman in the country to be promoted to the rank in 2018 and also to rise to the apex of the Kenya Air Force last year.
Before his appointment, Major General Waliaula was the Director of Defence National Security Industries.
President Ruto also promoted and appointed Brigadier Joel Muriungi M’arimi to the rank of Major General and appointed him Commandant Kenya Military Academy. He was hitherto the Commander Armored Brigade.
Brigadier Joyce Chelangat Sitienei was promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor Centre for Strategic and Security Studies at NDU-K. He has been the Director International Peace Support Centre.
Other appointments, promotions and postings made by the President on the recommendation of the Defence Council are:
In the Kenya Army, Brigadiers Faustino Macha Lobaly, Charles Lencho Mwasighe, Mohamed Isak Iddi, Edward Rugendo, Richard Wambua Mwanzia have been promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Director National Defence Security Industries, Director International Peace Support Centre, Director at the Directorate of Oversight, Compliance and Accountability (COCA), Director of Personnel and Logistics and Senior Directing Staff Army at the National Defence College respectively.
Colonels Said Mohamed Mwacharo and Mechack Sinkira Kishyoyan have been promoted to the rank of Brigadier and appointed Chief of Infrastructure and Commander 6 Brigade respectively.
In the Kenya Air Force, Colonels Herbert Mabele Wafula, Ismail Guhad Noor, Victor Waithaka Kang’ethe and Rodah Mkavita Mwasiga have been promoted to the rank of Brigadier and appointed Base Commander Moi Airbase, Deputy Managing Director Kenya Ordinance Factory Limited and Food Processing Factory, Director National Air Support Department (NASD), and Chief of Compensation and Welfare at Defence Headquarters.
In the Kenya Navy, Brigadier Timothy Stelu Lekolool has been promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College.
Maj General Lekolool was former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC).
Colonels Ronald Mesa Makori and Peter Musili Muthungu have been promoted to the rank of Brigadier and appointed Chief of Strategic Plans and Policy, and Head of Production at Kenya Shipyards Limited respectively.
Lieutenant Colonels Wilfrida Atieno Omolo and Safari Katana Kalume have been promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Commander Kenya Navy Logistics and Senior Directing Staff Navy Joint Warfare Centre respectively.
