President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Lieutenant General Peter Mbogo Njiru as Kenya’s Army Commander.
Uhuru made the appointments on Wednesday, July 20, with plans to fill the gap left behind amid the retirement of Lieutenant General Walter Koipaton.
Koipaton has served four excursions since his appointment on July 13, 2018.
Lt. Gen. Njiru served as an Aide-de-Camp to both the late President Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru. He served Uhuru for four years.
Following an earlier meeting of Board One in the military, the president made the adjustments publicly in the interest of Kenyans.
Last year, Lt Gen Njiru was posted to the defence staff college and appointed commander.
Board Five officers were promoted from brigadier to Maj. Gen. in one military.
To replace Maj Gen Joseph Kivunzi, who retired, Maj Gen David Tarus was given a promotion and made the General Officer in Command of Western Command.
Another appointement falled to Maj Gen Juma Shee Mwinyikai who appointed as new Commander of East Command to replace Maj Gen Ayub Matiri, who was in April named the Kenyan ambassador to Egypt.
Similarly, Maj Gen Fredrick Leuria was named the assistant chief of defence forces in charge of operations, plans, doctrine and training.
Sixteen officers of the rank of colonel were promoted to the rank of brigadier.
They include Brig William Kamoiro was named the commander of the second brigade, Brig Ahmed Mohamed Saman was appointed commander of the special operations brigade, Brig Muirungi was appointed commandant of the Recruit Training School, and Brig Joseph Mokwena was appointed the chief of systems defence headquarters.
Uhuru also promoted his bodyguard, Timothy Stelu from colonel to brigadier rank.
A statement from the department of defence said there were more changes across the military as per the defence council.
The changes still leave room for speculation on who could be the possible next Chief of Defence Forces.
The fact that the current Vice Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Francis Ogolla, was not touched means he still remains a possible candidate for the position.
The other candidate is Lt. Gen. Mohamed Badi of the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS).
The next CDF is likely to be from the Kenya Airforce. If any, Kenya Airforce commander, Maj Gen John Omenda has to be promoted to the rank of Lt Gen for him to be in the line of succeeding Gen Robert Kibochi, whose term will end next year.
Lt Gen Njiru will now join the Assumption of the Office of the President Committee to manage the succession of President Kenyatta.
Apart from the CDF, other members of the Assumption of the Office of the President Committee are the Director of NIS, PS Interior, Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General, and State House Comptroller, as well as PSs for Foreign Affairs, Finance, and ICT.
Others are two clerks of the bicameral Parliament and the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary.
The team is chaired by the Secretary of the Cabinet.
Part of the mandate of the committee is to organize for the security of the president-elect.
They also coordinate the briefings of the president-elect by key public officers and facilitate communication between the outgoing president and the president-elect.
The Kenya Defence Forces Act says a CDF, his deputy and service commanders shall serve a single term of four years or retire upon attaining the mandatory retirement age.
The Act also says the president may, on the recommendation of the National Defence Council, which is also known as Board One, extend the CDF’s term for not more than one year in times of war or emergencies, such as political uncertainty.
However, the law contains a clause about generals: “The maximum retirement age shall be amended from time to time through legislation on the recommendation by the Defence Council.”
