President William Ruto appointed Major General John Maiso Nkoimo as the Deputy Commander of the Kenya Army division of the Kenya Defence Forces on Friday, June 5.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Defence on June 5, 2026, President William Ruto appointed Nkoimo to replace Major General Mohamed Nur Hassan in a major military shake-up, which he termed a move to strengthen leadership across the armed forces.
Major General John Maiso Nkoimo has risen through different ranks of the Kenya Defence Forces to become one of the country’s most senior military officers.
MAJOR GENERAL JOHN MAISO NKOIMO PROFILE
| Name | Major General John Maiso Nkoimo |
| Position | Deputy Commander, Kenya Army |
| Branch | Kenya Army |
| Entry | 1990 |
| Service | 36 years |
| Key operations | Kismaiyo (Somalia), UN Peacekeeping Missions |
| Former position | GOC Central Command |
Early Life and Military Career
John Nkoimo began his military journey in 1990 when he joined the Kenya Army as a young cadet officer.
He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and later posted to the 20 Parachute Battalion in Gilgil.
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John Nkoimo Defining Role in the Kismayo Offensive
Nkoimo would later be deployed to Somalia in 2011 under President Mwai Kibaki, alongside other KDF officers, as part of Kenya’s effort to combat the Al-Shabaab militant group.
He held a key command responsibility in operations around Kismayo and the southern Somalia region under the African Union mission framework.
The Kismayo mission was successful, placing Nkoimo and others in the spotlight after they weakened Al-Shabaab’s territorial control and drove it away from its key economic and operational base.
Career Progression
GENERAL JOHN NKOIMO CAREER
| Year | Position |
| 1990 | Joined Kenya Army, Cadet Officer |
| 1991 | Commissioned as Second Lieutenant, 20 Parachute Battalion |
| 1990s | UN Peacekeeping Mission in the former Yugoslavia |
| 2011/2012 | Command role, Somalia Operations |
| 2023 | Commandant, Kenya Military Academy (Lanet) |
| 2023/2024 | General Officer Commanding Special Operations Command |
| 2025/2026 | General Officer Commanding (GOC), Central Command |
| 2026 JUNE | Deputy Commander, Kenya Army |
Appointment as Deputy Commander of the Kenya Army
As Deputy Commander of the Kenya Army, Nkoimo becomes the second-in-command of the Kenya Army, and will be tasked with:
- Supporting overall operational command.
- Strategic planning.
- Personnel management.
- Implementing national defense priorities.
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Previous Leadership Roles of General John Nkoimo
- General Commanding Officer (GOC), Central Command
- Field Commander in Somalia in Kismayo Operations
- Commander, Border Security Operations
- Commandant, Joint Command and College Staff
- Trainer and Mentor, Kenya Military Academy.
About the Kenya Army
The Kenya Army is a branch of the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) charged with defending the country from external threats.
It was formed in 1964 for border security and internal stability, anti-terrorist operations, peacekeeping missions under the United Nations and African Union, and humanitarian assistance and disaster management.
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PHOTO | William Ruto | X
