President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed Gen. Robert Kibochi as the new Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF) to replace the retiring Gen Samson Jefwa Mwathethe.
An army veteran of 39 years, Gen Kibochi will officially take over on May 11 and will be in office at the time he country goes to the next General Election in 2022.
In an address on the military changes, President Kenyatta also promoted Major General Levi Mghalu to Lieutenant General and appointed him the vice chief of defence forces.
Brigadier Jimson Mutai was promoted to Major General and appointed the Commander of the Kenya Navy. He is the outgoing Base Commander at Mtongwe Navy Base.
“Let me say, I look forward to working with these officers closely in service to our motherland. For you, General Mwathethe, I wish you fair winds following seas; and the very best in your future endeavours,” the president said.
Gen. Kibochi has been the Vice Chief of Defence Forces since 2018.
He previously served as Commander of the Kenya Army and the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Operations, Plans, Doctrine and Training.
He commanded the Kenyan contingent in the UN Mission to Sierra Leone from 2000 to 2001.
Gen. Kibochi holds a Master’s degree in International Studies and is currently pursuing a PhD in conflict management.
The position of CDF is held in a rotational basis amongst the three disciplines of the military; Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force and the Kenya Navy, with officers holders serving one term of four years but with a possible extension of another one year at the pleasure of the commander in chief.
Gen. Mwathethe was from Kenya Navy while Gen. Julius Karangi who preceded him was from Kenya Air Force.
Whoever will replace Gen Kibochi will be expected to come the Navy
Having been appointed in 2015, Gen. Mwathethe ought to have retired in 2019 but President Kenyatta extended his term for a year.
Besides the top military promotions and appointments, President Kenyatta appointed three deputy service commanders.
They include Major Gen. Albert Kendagor who has been posted at the Kenya Army headquarters and appointed Deputy Commander of the Kenya Army.
The others are Brigadier John Omenda who has been posted to the Kenya Air Force headquarters and appointed Deputy Commanderr and Brigadier Lawrence Gituma who will be Kenya Navy’s Deputy Commander.
The new deputy service commanders are Major General Albert Kendagor (Kenya Army), Brigadier Lawrence Gituma (Kenya Navy) and Brigadier John Omenda who takes over as the second-in-command at the Kenya Air Force.
The Air Force has been without a deputy commander since the retirement of Brigadier Simon Wachira in September last year.
Various officers have also been promoted from Brigadier to Major Generals and given new appointments.
They include William Shume (Border Security Command), Peter Njiru (Commandant Kenya Military Academy), Charles Kahariri (Senior Directing Staff Maritime National Defence College) and Rashid Elmi (Senior Directing Staff Air National Defence College).
Colonel Maroa Gati has been promoted to Brigadier and appointed Commandant Recruits Training School while Col. (Dr) Milton Obilo has also been promoted to Brigadier and appointed Chief of Medical Services at the Defence Headquarters.
Others appointed to various positions include Major Gen Thomas Chepkuto, who has been posted to Super Pool while on secondment to Diplomatic Service.
Brigadier Joakim Mwamburi is now the Commandant School of Infantry and Brigadier Godfrey Buluma the Commandant of the Defence Forces Memorial.
Brigadier William Kombe has been posted to Super Pool while on secondment to Diplomatic Service while Brigadier Dennis Kamuri is now the Deputy Managing Director of the Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation.
