Navy man now succeeds Karangi as military chief

What you need to know:

  • Gen Mwathethe’s appointment confirmed that a tradition adopted by military generals, in which an officer from one of the three services takes charge on rotational basis was still in effect.
  • Brigadier Charles Gituai was made Maj-Gen while retaining his position as chief of joint staff at East Africa Standby Force.
  • His other appointments included Chief of Systems and Procurement, Department of Defence and Command of individual Kenya Navy ships among others.

General Samson Mwathethe was Friday named Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, placing on his shoulders the responsibility of taking to the next level the ongoing war against Al-shabaab terrorists.
The Navy officer with 37 years military experience replaced Gen Julius Karangi who retired.

Kenya Army also has a new commander, Lt-Gen Leonard Muriuki Ngondi, who in 2011 was in charge of Kenyan troops in Somalia in the ongoing war against Al-shabaab.
The top command of the other services of the military – Kenya Air Force and the Kenya Navy – remained unchanged.

In the Army, Lt-Gen Ngondi replaced Lt-Gen Joseph Kasaon who was appointed Vice Chief of Defence Forces.
The appointments were made by the Commander-in-Chief President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Gen Mwathethe’s appointment confirmed that a tradition adopted by military generals, in which an officer from one of the three services takes charge on rotational basis was still in effect.
Gen Karangi’s background is the Air Force while Gen Jeremiah Kianga before him came from the Army.

Until yesterday, Gen Mwathethe served under Gen Karangi as VCDF and held the rank of Lt-General for four years.

Gen Mwathethe is the second officer from the Navy to command the three Services, the other was Gen Joseph Kibwana under Presidents Moi and Kibaki.
The appointments were the result of two high level defence meetings earlier in the week.

On Monday, there was the Board 1 meeting which brings together top generals who make recommendations on promotions and appointments.

And yesterday, the Defence Council, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo endorsed then forwaded them to President Kenyatta.
Gen Mwathethe’s rise in the military has been steadfast.

MILITARY OBSERVER

In 2011, he was the Kenya Navy Commander and previously served as Deputy Kenya Navy Commander, Kenya Navy logistics Commander, Base Commander and Fleet Commander.

His other appointments included Chief of Systems and Procurement, Department of Defence and Command of individual Kenya Navy ships among others.

He also served with the United Nations as a military observer in Kuwait, Iraq and Yugoslavia in 1991 and 1992.

The Defence Ministry said those named were appointees “designate” until office holders retire.

Gen Karangi’s term officially ends in July but he is expected to spend the remaining months handing over to Gen Mwathethe.

Other changes confirmed by the President include the promotion of Director of Military Intelligence from Brigadier to Major General.

Maj-Gen Jonathan Rono was promoted to Lt-Gen and appointed Amisom Force commander.

Brigadier Charles Gituai was made Maj-Gen while retaining his position as chief of joint staff at East Africa Standby Force.

The Eastern and Western Commands will be under Maj-Gen Benjamin Biwott and Maj-Gen Walter Koipaton who were both promoted from Brigadier.

Brigadier Andrew Ikenye was promoted to Maj-Gen and appointed the Deputy Commandant at the National Defence College.

Brigadier Michael Munywoki was appointed Managing Director of Kenya Ordinance Factory Corporation and promoted to Maj-Gen.

If Lt-Gen Kasaon had missed the appointment, it means he would have left the military, going by the “Tonje Rules.”

The rules were introduced by former Chief Of General Staff Daudi Tonje (the position has since been renamed Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces in accordance with the new Constitution) require a Lt-Gen to serve a maximum four-year term or retire at the age of 58, whichever comes first. When Gen Mwathethe leaves in 2019, Lt-Gen Kasaon can succeed him.

He became Army Commander in 2011.

The Tonje Rules stipulate that Major Generals and Lieutenant Generals must retire at the age 56 and 58 years respectively.

However, the holders of those ranks can leave office younger if they are appointed as Service or Force commanders. The rules say they have to leave office either after serving four years or attaining the age limit, whichever comes first.