Commander, Kenya Army

Summary

The Commander, Kenya Army is the chief and highest-ranking officer of the Kenya Army The current commander is Lieutenant general David Kimaiyo Tarus

Commander,
Kenya Army
Flag of Kenya Army
Incumbent
Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Tarus
since 9 march 2024
 Kenya Army
Reports toChief of Defence Forces
Appointerthe President
Formation12 December 1963
First holderIan Freeland
DeputyDeputy Army Commander

List of officeholders edit

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Major General
Ian Freeland
(1912–1979)
12 December 1963 30 April 1964 140 days [1][2]
2 Brigadier
A. J. Hardy
1 May 1964 30 November 1966 2 years, 213 days [3][2]
3 Brigadier
Joseph Musyimi Lele Ndolo
1 December 1966 31 May 1969 2 years, 181 days [4][2]
4 Major General
Jackson Mulinge
(1924–2014)
1 June 1969 22 November 1978 9 years, 144 days [5][6]
[2]
5 Major General
Joseph Kathuka Nzioka
1 December 1978 12 December 1979 1 year, 11 days [2]
6 Major General
John Malan Sawe
13 December 1979 2 January 1981 1 year, 20 days [2][7]
7 Major General
Mahamoud Mohamed
3 January 1981 14 December 1981 346 days [2]
8 Lieutenant General
John M. Sawe
15 December 1981 27 February 1986 4 years, 74 days [2]
9 Lieutenant General
James Lelasian Lengees
28 February 1986 30 November 1993 7 years, 275 days [2][8]
10   Lieutenant General
Daniel Rerimoi Chepkonga Tonje
1 December 1993 22 June 1994 203 days [2][9]
11 Lieutenant General
Augustine K. Cheruiyot
28 June 1994 7 June 1998 3 years, 344 days [2]
12 Lieutenant General
Adan Abdullahi
9 June 1998 30 November 2000 2 years, 174 days [2]
13 Lieutenant General
Lazarus K. Sumbeiywo
1 December 2000 28 February 2003 2 years, 89 days [2]
14 Lieutenant General
Jeremiah Kianga EGH, CBS, ndc (K), cgsc (USA)
1 March 2003 10 August 2005 2 years, 162 days [2]
15   Lieutenant General
Augostino Stephen Karanu Njoroge MGH, CBS, ndc (K), psc
10 August 2005 5 December 2008 3 years, 117 days [2]
16 Lieutenant General
Jackson Kiprono Tuwei
5 December 2008 30 November 2010 1 year, 360 days [2][10]
17   Lieutenant General
Njuki Mwaniki MGH, CBS, OGW, ndc (K), psc
30 November 2010 13 July 2011 225 days [10][11]
18 Lieutenant General
Joseph Kiptoo Kasaon MGH, CBS, DCO, ndc (K), psc, cgsc (USA)
(born 1958)
13 July 2011 17 April 2015 3 years, 278 days [2][11]
19 Lieutenant General
Leonard Muriuki Ngondi MGH, CBS, OGW, ndc (K), psc
(born 1959)
17 April 2015 22 September 2016 1 year, 158 days [2]
20   Lieutenant General
Robert Kariuki Kibochi EGH, CBS, ndc (K), psc
(born 1959)
22 September 2016 13 July 2018 1 year, 294 days [2][12]
21   Lieutenant General
Walter Koipaton Raria MGH, CBS, OGW, ndc (K), psc
13 July 2018 20 July 2022 4 years, 7 days [13]
22 Lieutenant General
Peter Mbogo Njiru MGH, CBS ‘rcds’ (UK) ‘psc’ (K)
20 July 2022 8 march 2024 1 year, 265 days [14]
23 Lieutenant General

David Kimaiyo Chemwaina Tarus MGH, MBS, OGW

9 march 2024 incumbent [15]

References edit

  1. ^ Freeland received his knighthood in 1968. "No. 43173". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 November 1963. p. 9901."No. 43598". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 March 1965. p. 2619.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Army.
  3. ^ Poppy Cullen (2017). "Operation Binnacle: British plans for military intervention against a 1965 coup in Kenya". The International History Review. 39 (5).
  4. ^ Hornsby, Charles (2012). Kenya: A History Since Independence. London/New York: I. B. Tauris. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-84885-886-2.
  5. ^ Opande 2019, p. 67.
  6. ^ Kenya Yearbook 2010
  7. ^ Daniel Opande (2019). In Pursuit of Peace in Africa. East African Educational Publishers. p. 77. ISBN 978-9966564313.
  8. ^ Also serving as Commander 4th Brigade (Kenya) during the 1982 Kenyan coup d'état attempt. "Why former Army boss is on the horns of dilemma - Daily Nation". www.nation.co.ke. Archived from the original on 2017-12-19.
  9. ^ Kenya Yearbook 2010, pp432.
  10. ^ a b Ombati 2010.
  11. ^ a b Momanyi 2011.
  12. ^ PSCU 2016.
  13. ^ Munda 2018.
  14. ^ Okubasu, Derrick (20 July 2022). "Uhuru Picks His Former ADC Peter Mbogo Njiru to Head Kenya Army". kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  15. ^ Swearing-in of the Kenya Defence Forces Vice Chief and Service Commanders, State House, Nairobi., retrieved 2024-03-09
  • "Kenya Army Past Commanders". ka.mod.go.ke. Ministry of Defence – Kenya. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  • Ombati, Cyrus (30 November 2010). "New army chief promises to uphold professionalism". standardmedia.co.ke. The Standard. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  • Sarles, Harry (25 April 2013). "CGSC inducts new International Hall of Fame members". army.mil. US Army. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  • PSCU (22 September 2016). "Lt. General Robert Kibochi Sworn In As Army Commander". capitalfm.co.ke. Capital News. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  • Munda, Cliff (September 2018). "Kenya Army Gets New Commander". Nairobi: Hivisasa.com. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  • Momanyi, Bernard (14 July 2011). "Kenya Gets A New Military Boss". capitalfm.co.ke. Capital News. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  • Kenya Yearbook 2010, pp430
  • https://intelligencebriefs.com/tag/kenya-army-command/