Spotlight on Karangi as retirement looms

President Uhuru Kenyatta with Chief of Defence Forces of Kenya Gen Julius Karangi. After the recent shake-up in the military hierarchy, attention now turns to who will be named to head the Kenya Defence Forces when Gen Julius Waweru Karangi retires. PSCU 

In Summary

• In the latest appointments by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Brig Francis Omondi Ogolla, another key player in Operation Linda Nchi, as the Somalia operation came to be known, was named deputy air force commander.
• The succession will be determined when the Defence Council next meets to consider promotions and transfers since those who hit their rank’s retirement age before then would be allowed to retire.
• Gen Karangi joined the Kenya Air Force in 1973 and after cadet training in UK, was commissioned as an officer in 1974.

By FRED MUKINDA
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After the recent shake-up in the military hierarchy, attention now turns to who will be named to head the Kenya Defence Forces when Gen Julius Waweru Karangi retires.

 

Gen Karangi has been at the helm for three years but will turn 64 in April which, going by a statement issued by Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo, should be the end of his four decades in the armed forces.

According to a statement Ms Omamo issued in December last year, the KDF chief should serve a term of four years or attain the age of 64, whichever comes first. Gen Karangi would require ample time to hand over to his successor.

The top generals serving under the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) — and who are likely to be considered to succeed him — are vice CDF Lt Gen Samson Mwathethe, Army Commander Lt Gen Joseph Kasaon, Commandant National Defence College Lt Gen J. N. Waweru, Navy Commander Maj Gen Ngewa Mukala, and the new Air Force Commander Maj Gen Samuel Thuita.

The succession will be determined when the Defence Council next meets to consider promotions and transfers since those who hit their rank’s retirement age before then would be allowed to retire.
Gen Karangi joined the Kenya Air Force in 1973 and after cadet training in UK, was commissioned as an officer in 1974.

A decorated officer with an illustrious career that saw him train in Kenya, Britain, US and India, Gen Karangi (pictured) was appointed Commandant Defence Staff College, Karen where he worked between December 2000 to November 2003 in the rank of major general.

He was appointed Kenya Air Force Commander in November 2003 where he served until August 2005 when he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and appointed vice CDF.
On July 13, 2011, he was promoted to the rank of general and he replaced Gen Jeremiah Kianga as the KDF head. 

SCHEDULED TO RETIRE

Gen Kianga had initially been scheduled to retire in 2009 under the administrative rules applicable at the time, but President Kibaki extended his term by two years to retain stability after the 2007-08 post-election violence. Then Lt Gen Karangi continued to serve as Gen Kianga’s deputy.

In the latest command changes last Wednesday, whose highlight was the retirement of Kenya Air Force boss Jeff Otieno — replaced by Maj Gen Samuel Ng’ang’a Thuita — officers who commanded KDF units against the Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab are among the beneficiaries of key appointments and promotions in the military.

Brigadier Antony Mukundi Ngere was appointed the officer commanding the Western Command after returning from Somalia where he was in charge of all troops in Sector 2 until September last year.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission divided the unstable country into four sectors, and each was allocated to troops from the four African countries that contribute to the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).

The KDF was assigned to Sector 2, a region stretching from lower Gedo through Middle Juba to Lower Juba, which includes the port of Kismayu.

Brigadier Ngere follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, Maj Gen JM Ondieki, who left Amisom for a stint at the Western command until December last year when he was appointed deputy army commander.

In the latest appointments by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Brig Francis Omondi Ogolla, another key player in Operation Linda Nchi, as the Somalia operation came to be known, was named deputy air force commander.

He had been the base commander at Laikipia Air Base which was the crucial launching pad for fighter jets involved in the Somalia incursion.

The jets would leave the base and conduct precise bombings in what the military referred to as “surgical operations” before returning to base in scheduled intervals.

The Engineering Brigade domiciled in Thika also played key roles as its troops safely cleared landmines and roadside improvised explosive devices planted by Al-Shabaab.

Brig George Owino was in charge of the Thika-based unit and was promoted to major general and appointed the commandant of the Defence Staff College in Karen.

The Ministry of Defence announced the changes shortly after they were made by the President on the advice of the Defence Council, which is chaired by Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo.

Brig Jossiah Mrashui is another notable officer having served former President Mwai Kibaki as aide-de-camp. He was appointed chief strategic, plans and policy officer at Defence Headquarters.

The promotion exercise was silent on Maj Gen Francis Nthenge, who was sent to Somalia last year to deputise the Amison Force Commander, a Ugandan general since his country presents the largest contribution of troops.

Maj Gen Nthenge’s position was taken by Maj Gen Jonathan Rono, who was until Wednesday head of Eastern Command. Brig Benjamin Biwott is now in charge of Western Command. Wednesday’s shake-up further points to a succession that is shaping up as the top brass, including General Karangi, are nearing retirement.

Internal administrative regulations better known as Tonje rules because they were introduced by Gen Daudi Tonje before he left the military, previously required that the CDF retires at 62 years.