President Ruto reshuffles top military leadership in latest KDF shake-up

President William Ruto has made significant changes within the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), enacting a series of high-level promotions and appointments across the Kenya Army, Air Force, and Navy.

The most notable changes include:

• Major General David Kipkemboi Ketter has been promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed as the new Commander of the Kenya Army, succeeding Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Chemwaina Tarus, who will now serve as Vice Chancellor of the National Defence University – Kenya (NDU-K).
• Major General Benard Waliaula has been appointed Commander of the Kenya Air Force, taking over from Major General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed, who has completed her four-decade-long service.
• Brigadier Joel Muriungi M’arimi has been promoted to Major General and appointed as Commandant of the Kenya Military Academy.
• Brigadier Joyce Chelang’at Sitienei has also attained the rank of Major General and is now the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Centre for Strategic and Security Studies at NDU-K.

In addition to these appointments, President Ruto, acting on the advice of the Defence Council chaired by Defence CS Roselinda Soipan Tuya, has approved numerous promotions, postings, and appointments, thereby strengthening leadership across various strategic units.

Summary of Promotions

Kenya Army:

• Brigadiers Faustino Mancha, Charles Lenjo Mwazighe, Mohamed Isak Iddi, Edward Rugendo, and Richard Wambua Mwanzia have been promoted to Major General and assigned to senior leadership roles.
• Colonels Said Mwacharo and Meshack Kishoyian have been promoted to Brigadier and assigned to infrastructure and brigade command, respectively.

Kenya Air Force:

• Colonels Herbert Wafula, Ismail Noor, Victor Kang’ethe, and Rodah Mwasigwa have been promoted to Brigadier, taking on command and departmental leadership roles.

Kenya Navy:

• Brigadier Timothy Lekoloolhas been promoted to Major General.
• Colonels Ronald Makori, Peter Muthungu, Wilfrida Omolo, and Safari Kalume have been elevated to Brigadier or Colonel and appointed to key operational and logistics positions.