President Ruto appoints Gen. Francis Ogolla as the new Chief of Defence Forces

General Francis Ogolla appointed new Chief of Defence Forces. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

President William Ruto has made changes to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

In his latest appointments, Ruto has promoted Lieutenant General Francis Ogolla to the rank of General and appointed him the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

Gen. Ogolla now takes over as CDF from Gen. Robert Kibochi whose term has ended.

Gen. Ogolla was previously the Commander of the Air Force and Vice Chief of Defence Forces.

His predecessor Kibochi who was appointed in May 2020 attained a PhD in 2022 from Kenyatta University, and retires after 44 years in the military.

He made history by becoming the first non-infantry officer from the Kenya Army to be appointed as CDF and made more history as being the first CDF to hold a PhD.

President Ruto has also appointed Lt. Gen. Jonah Mwangi as the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces.

Gen. Mwangi was the Vice Chancellor, National Defence University, Kenya. Major General Said Farah takes over as the new Vice-Chancellor.

Other appointments include Brigadier David Kipkemboi Keter who has been promoted to Major General and appointed Assistant Chief of the Defence Forces Personnel and Logistics.

Brigadier John Maison Nkoimo has been promoted to Major General and appointed Commandant of Joint Command Staff College (JCSC), while Brigadier Abdulkadir Mohammed Burje has been promoted to Major General and appointed Director of Military Intelligence (DMI).

Brigadier Paul Owuor Otieno has been promoted to Major General and appointed Managing Director Kenya Shipyards Limited.

Major General Jeff Nyagah who served as Commander of the East Africa Regional Force (EACRF) has been appointed General Officer West Command. In his place, the president has appointed Major General Alphaxard Muthuri Kiugu as EACRF-DRC Force Commander.

Brigadier Stephen James Mutuku has been promoted to Major General and appointed Senior Directing Staff (Army), National Defence College.

Others are Colonel Anthony Rotich who has been promoted to Brigadier and appointed Commander Military Intelligence Corps.

Colonel Alfred Mwihuri Gitonga has also been promoted to Brigadier and appointed Director National Military Coordination Centre.

Major General David Kimaiyo Tarus has been appointed Deputy Commander Kenya Army, while Major General William Karisa Shume has been appointed General Officer Border Security Command (GOC BSC).

Major General Eric Mbugua Kinuthia has been appointed Senior Directing Staff - Air, National Defence College, while Major General Said Mohamed Farah has been appointed Vice Chancellor, National Defence University.

Brigadier Yahya Abdi has been appointed Deputy Commander Kenya Navy.

The changes have been made on the advice of the Defence Council, chaired by Cabinet Secretary for Defence Aden Duale.