President William Ruto has made new leadership changes in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). The Ministry of Defence, in a statement on Friday, June 27, said that Ruto has promoted Major General David Kipkemboi Ketter to Lieutenant General and appointed him as the Commander Kenya Army.
Ketter replaces Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Chemwaina Tarus, who has been redeployed to the National Defence University – Kenya (NDU-K) as the Vice Chancellor.
Until his appointment as Commander Kenya Army, Lieutenant General Ketter was the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics.
“His Excellency Hon Dr William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya, and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces upon recommendation of the Defence Council, has today promoted Major General David Kipkemboi Ketter to Lieutenant General and appointed him as the Commander Kenya Army,” read part of the statement.
The President has also appointed Major General Benard Waliaula to replace Major General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed as the new Kenya Air Force Commander.
Major General Ahmed’s term of service has come to an end after 42 years of service.
Until his appointment as Commander Kenya Air Force, Major General Waliaula was the Director of Defence National Security Industries.
President Ruto has also promoted Brigadier Joel Muriungi M’arimi to the rank of Major General and appointed him Commandant Kenya Military Academy.
Until his appointment as Commandant Kenya Military Academy, he was the Commander Armoured Brigade.
Further, the President has promoted Brigadier Joyce Chelang’at Sitienei to the rank of Major General and appointed her Deputy Vice Chancellor Centre for Strategic and Security Studies at NDU-K.
Until her promotion and appointment, she was the Director Intenational Peace Support Centre.
Ruto upholds other KDF promotions, postings and appointments
Further, on the advice of the Defence Council Chaired by Defence Cabinet Secretary Roselinda Soipan Tuya, the President upheld the Council’s recommendations and made various promotions, postings and appointments of KDF officers as follows:
Kenya Army
Brigadier Faustino Mancha Lobaly: Promoted to Major General and appointed Director National Defence Security Industries.
Brigadier Charles Lenjo Mwazighe: Promoted to Major General and appointed Director International Peace Support Centre.
Brigadier Mohamed Isak Iddi: Promoted to Major General and appointed Director at the Directorate of Oversight, Compliance and Accountability (DOCA).
Brigadier Edward Rugendo: Promoted to Major General and appointed Director of Personnel and Logistics.
Brigadier Richard Wambua Mwanzia: Promoted to Major General and appointed Senior Directing Staff Army at National Defence College.
Colonel Said Mohamed Mwacharo: Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Chief of Infrastructure.
Colonel Mestiack Sinkira Kishoyian: Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Commander 6 Brigade.
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Kenya Air Force
Colonel Herbert Mabele Wafula: Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Base Commander Moi Airbase.
Colonel Ismail Guhad Noor: Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Deputy Managing Director at Kenya Ordinance Factories Limited and Food Processing Factory
Colonel Victor Waithaka Kang’ethe: Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Director National Air Support Department (NASD).
Colonel Rodah Mkavita Mwasigwa: Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Chief of Compensation and Welfare at Defence Headquarters.
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Kenya Navy
Brigadier Timothy Stelu Lekolool: Promoted to Major General and appointed Senior Directing Staff at National Defence College.
Colonel Ronald Mesa Makori: Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Chief of Strategic Plans and Policy.
Colonel Peter Musili Muthungu: Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Head of Production at Kenya Shipyard Limited
Lieutenant Colonel Wilfrida Atieno Omola: Promoted to Colonel and appointed Commander Kenya Navy Logistics.
Lieutenant Colonel Safari Katana Kalume: Promoted to Colonel and appointed Senior Directing Staff Navy Joint Warfare Centre.
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I appreciate the change of Guard as a veteran am glad our military is improving standards.Bravo KDF.