On May 2, 2024, the then Vice Chief of
Defence Forces (VCDF) Lt Gen Charles Muriu Kahariri was promoted to the rank of
general and named the Chief of Defence Forces.
He replaced his boss Gen Francis Ogolla
who died in a chopper crash on April 18, 2024.
Kenya Airforce commander Maj Gen John Omenda was promoted and named the VCDF.
Maj Gen Fatuma Ahmed was named the commander of Kenya Airforce to succeed Maj Gen Omenda. She had been at the National Defence College where she was a senior Directing Staff Air.
This followed a meeting of the Defense Council under the chairmanship of Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
For Gen Kahariri, it was luck.
Based on the past trend, all military commanders had to have served as service commanders. But for him he had not.
He once served as the deputy commander Kenya Navy and was later promoted and posted to defence college.
Maj Gen Paul Otieno, Managing Director for the Kenya Shipyards Limited, was named the commander of Kenya Navy replacing Maj Gen Thomas Nganga who had served in the position for a month.
Gen Ogolla and the Kenay Airforce at large had not completed their term as the CDF.
Based on this, the Defence Council could have had the option of letting the Air Force complete their years in
rotation, but there was no Lt. General in the Air Force then.
Their senior officer was a Major General - Maj. Gen John Omeda.
Technically, he could not jump a rank to a general, and it would mean retiring many others ahead of him.
On July 24, Gen. Kahariri presided over changes in the military that saw at least 23 senior military officers promoted.
This followed a Defence Council meeting then chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary and acting Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Defence Musalia Mudavadi.
In the changes, Maj Gen Stephen James Mutuku was appointed the deputy commandant National Defence College.
In the Kenya Army, the council promoted Col Edward Nyamao to Brigadier and named him Chief of Compensation and Welfare (DHQ) while Col Collins Otieno was promoted to Brigadier and appointed Chief of Personnel (HQ KA).
In the Navy, the council appointed Brig John Sankale Kiswaa as the Deputy Commander Kenya Navy while Brig Peter Shikukuu Chelimo was appointed Director Centre for Security and Strategic Studies - National Defence University Kenya.
At Kenya Army, Col Paul Koech was promoted to Brigadier and appointed Chief of Training, Clement Nyakundi was promoted to brigadier and appointed Deputy Managing Director Kenya Meat Commission while Col Victor Mburu was promoted to Brigadier and appointed Commander Combat Engineers Brigade.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Act says a CDF, his deputy and service
commanders shall serve a single term of four years or retire upon attaining the
mandatory retirement age.
But the Act also says the President may, on the recommendation of the National
Defence Council, extend the CDF’s term for a period not exceeding one year in
times of war or emergencies like political uncertainty.
A General is supposed to retire at 62, a lieutenant general at 61, a major general at 59 and a Brigadier at 57 years.
However, the law puts a disclaimer on the General that:
“The maximum retirement
age shall be amended from time to time through legislation on the
recommendation by the Defence Council.”
Under the rules introduced by retired Chief of General Staff Gen Tonje —
adopted and known as the Tonje Rules — the position of the CDF is rotated among
the three services.
These are the Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force and Kenya Navy.
Gen Ogolla was from the Kenya Air Force, and his predecessor, Gen. Robert Kibochi, was from the Kenya Army. This meant that the next CDF had to come from the
