A Kenya Airforce pilot Brigadier Charles Mwai (pictured) has been appointed the acting Director of Military Intelligence (DMI).
Military sources say Mwai will hold the post until December, when the National Defence Council meets, probably to approve him.
This came after Major General Philip Kameru retired from the DMI following his appointment as the Director General of National Intelligence Service. A statement from the ministry of Defence said Maj-Gen Kameru retired on Thursday.
Following his successful parliamentary vetting and approval, we congratulate the outgoing Director of Military Intelligence who has retired from active military service,” read part of a statement.
Brig Mwai, who hails from Nyeri, has been Maj-Gen Kameru’s deputy for a while. Our source who sought anonymity said: “Brig Mwai and Kameru have both worked well in dealing with the Al Shabaab threat locally and in Somalia, and their new roles will be a compliment”.
A DMI specifically deals with military matters but can supplement other security agencies when needed. The National Defence Council is set to meet any time to appoint the next DMI to succeed Kameru and make other changes including the next commanders. Kameru was sworn in on Thursday last week to succeed Maj-Gen Michael Gichangi who resigned last month over personal reasons.
Kameru gained confidence when he worked with the Western powers during the multi-national operation to wipe out piracy in the Indian Ocean.
Maj-Gen Kameru will now have to face several forces internally and externally unlike in the military where his line of duty mainly focused on their operations.
In Africa, NIS is perceived as an outstanding intelligence collection and action outfit.
