VCDF Charles Kahariri appointed new Chief of Defence Forces after promotion

Vice Chief of Defence Forces (VCDF) Lt Gen Charles Muriu Kahariri  has been  promoted to the rank of general and named the Chief Defence Forces.

He now replaces his boss Gen Francis Ogolla who died in a chopper crash.

Kenya Airforce commander Maj Gen John Omenda was promoted and named the VCDF.

Maj Gen Fatuma Ahmed was named the commander Kenya Airforce to succeed Maj Gen Omenda. She had been at the National Defence College where she was a senior Directing Staff Air.

This follows a meeting of the Defense Council under chairmanship of defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.

For Gen Kahari it was a luck.

This is because based on the past trend where all military commanders had to have served as service commanders, he did not.

He never served as a service commander.

He once served as the deputy commander Kenya Navy and later promoted and posted to defence college.

For regional balancing, Paul Otieno, Managing Director for the Kenya Shipyards Limited was named the commander Kenya Navy replacing Maj Gen Thomas Nganga who had served at the position for a month.

Maj Gen Nganga was moved to the National Defence University and appointed the Vice Chancellor administration and finance.

Brig Peter Githinji was promoted to Maj Gen and named senior directing staff at the National Defence College.

Brig George Okumu was promoted to Maj Gen and named the Managing Director Kenya Ordinance Factories Cooporation and Food Processing Factory while Brig Samuel Kipkorir was appointed the deputy commander Kenya Air Force.