New Kenya military bosses appointed
Lt-Gen Njuki Mwaniki (right) was on Thursday appointed as the Army Commander. Here, he is seen with the Air Force Commander, Maj-Gen H. Tangai, during the preparations for the promulgation of the new Constitution. Photo/WILLIAM OERI
Three generals were among the biggest casualties in Thursday’s sweeping changes made by the Defence Council.
The Army Commander, Lt-Gen Jackson Tuwei, was retired.
The others affected by the shuffle were the Commandant of the Defence Staff College, Major General Charles Mwanzia and the Commandant of the National Defence College, Lt-Gen Jones Mutwii.
The changes saw Major-General Njuki Mwaniki — who was until Thursday the deputy Army Commander — promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed the new commander to succeed Lt-Gen Tuwei.
Major General Joseph Kasaon was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General. He will succeed Lt-Gen Mutwii as the Commandant of the National Defence College.
Brigadier J. Otieno was promoted to the rank of Major-General and took over as commandant of the Defence Staff College to replace Major General Mwanzia.
In the other changes, Brigadier Leonard Ngondi was promoted to the rank of Major-General and appointed to head the Eastern Command in the Kenya Army.
In other changes within the Kenya Army, Brigadier Gordon Kihalangwa was promoted to the rank of Major-General and appointed Assistant Chief of General Staff, Planning and Logistics.
Brigadier Bashir Haji, who was Commandant of the Kenya Military Academy was promoted to the rank of Major-General and appointed Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College, replacing Major-General Kasaon.
Brigadier Francis Nthenge was also promoted to the rank of Major-General and appointed assistant CGS in charge of Operations, Training and Doctrine.
Colonel S. Nandwa was promoted to the rank of Brigadier an appointed the new commandant at the Kenya Military Academy, formerly the Armed Forces Training College.
The changes also saw Colonel R. Mbithi promoted to a Brigadier and appointed Commander, Corps and Signals, while Colonel A. M. Ikenye was promoted to a Brigadier and appointed the commandant, Armed Forces Memorial Hospital.
Col G. O. Owino has also been promoted to a Brigadier and appointed the Commander of the Engineers Brigade while Colonel J. M. Ondieki also becomes a brigadier and commander of the Sixth Brigade, a new outfit within the Kenya Army.
Colonel J. N. Kavisi also becomes a brigadier and the commandant, School of Combat, while Colonel P. K. Magut was also promoted to a brigadier and commandant of Kahawa Garrison.
In the Kenya Air Force, Colonel S. K. Njung’e was promoted to a brigadier and appointed deputy commander, while Colonel S.N. Thuita has been promoted chief of strategy, planning and policy at the defence headquarters.
