Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces
Standard of the Kenya Defence Forces
Major General Francis Omondi Ogolla
Incumbent
Francis Ogolla
since 28 April 2023
National Security Council
AbbreviationCDF
Member ofKenya Defence Forces
Reports toPresident of Kenya
ResidenceUlinzi House
SeatUlinzi House
NominatorDefence Council
AppointerPresident of Kenya
Term lengthServe a single term of four (4) years or retire upon the attaining of the mandatory retirement age
Constituting instrumentArticle 241 of the Constitution of Kenya
First holderBernard Penfold
DeputyVice Chief of the Defence Forces
WebsiteOfficial website

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) is the highest-ranking military officer in the Kenya Defence Forces and the principal military adviser to the President of Kenya and the National Security Council. The CDF outranks all respective heads of each service branch and has operational command authority over the service branches. He leads the meetings and coordinates the efforts of the Service Commander, comprising the CDF, the Commander of the Kenya Army and Kenya Air Force, Kenya Navy and the Commandant of Military Intelligence. The CDF has offices in Ulinzi House. Following the 2010 Constitution, the Chief of the General Staff was replaced with the Chief of the Defence Forces.[1]

Duties

The office is considered very important and highly prestigious, because the CDF has command authority over the Armed Forces. The chain of command is from the President (as the Commander in Chief), directly to the CDF. The CDF, as a Principal Adviser, does have authority over personnel assignments and oversight over resources and personnel allocated to the commands within the respective services. The Chairman may also transmit communications to the service commanders from the President. He also performs all other functions as assigned from time to time by the President. The CDF may also allocate those duties and responsibilities to other officers under his name.

List of chiefs

Chief of the General Staff

No. Portrait Chief of the General StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branchRef.
1
Robert Bernard Penfold
Penfold, RobertMajor General
Robert Bernard Penfold
(1916–2015)		30 November 196631 May 19692 years, 182 days Kenya Army[2][3]
2
Joseph Musyimi Lele Ndolo
Ndolo, JosephMajor General
Joseph Musyimi Lele Ndolo		1 June 196924 June 19712 years, 23 days Kenya Army[4]
3
Jackson Kimeu Mulinge
Mulinge, JacksonGeneral
Jackson Kimeu Mulinge
(1924–2014)		25 June 1971198614–15 years Kenya Army[5][6]
4
Mohamud Haji Barrow Mohamed
Mohamed, MahamoudGeneral
Mohamud Haji Barrow Mohamed		198619969–10 years Kenya Air Force[7][6]
5
Daudi Rerimoi Chepkong'a Tonje
Tonje, DaudiGeneral
Daudi Rerimoi Chepkong'a Tonje		199630 November 20003–4 years Kenya Army[7][6][8]
6
Joseph Raymond Edward Kibwana
Kibwana, JosephGeneral
Joseph Raymond Edward Kibwana		1 December 200031 August 20054 years, 273 days Kenya Navy[6]
7
Jeremiah Mutinda Kianga
Kianga, JeremiahGeneral
Jeremiah Mutinda Kianga		1 September 200512 July 20115 years, 314 days Kenya Army[6]

Chief of the Defence Forces

No. Portrait Chief of the Defence ForcesTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branchRef.
1
Julius Waweru Karangi
Penfold, BernardGeneral
Julius Waweru Karangi		13 July 20114 May 20153 years, 295 days Kenya Air Force[6]
2
Samson Jefwa Mwathethe
Mwathethe, SamsonGeneral
Samson Jefwa Mwathethe		5 May 201510 May 20205 years, 4 days Kenya Navy[6][9]
3
Robert Kariuki Kibochi
Kibochi, RobertGeneral
Robert Kariuki Kibochi		11 May 202030 April 20232 years, 355 days Kenya Army[10]
4
Francis Omondi Ogolla
Penfold, BernardGeneral
Francis Omondi Ogolla		29 April 2023Incumbent245 days Kenya Air Force[11]

Citations

  1. ↑ Kibet, Dennis (28 June 2018). "KDF makes major changes". Puls live. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  2. ↑ Hornsby 2012, p. 180.
  3. ↑ "King's Collections : Archive Catalogues : Military Archives". kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Hornsby 2012, p. 228-229.
  5. ↑ Hornsby 2012, p. 335-336.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nairobian reporter. "Seven Kenya Defence Forces military generals you never wanted to mess with". SDE. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  7. 1 2 Hornsby 2012, p. 554.
  8. ↑ "A soldier's story".
  9. ↑ Ramadhan, Khatib (1 May 2015). "Navy General takes over as new Chief of Kenya Defence Forces". Indian Ocean Observer. Mombasa. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  10. ↑ Agutu, Nancy (11 May 2020). "Robert Kibochi sworn in as new Chief of Kenya Defence Forces". the-star.co.ke. The Star. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Francis Omondi Ogolla succeeds Robert Kibochi as KDF chief". 28 April 2023.

References

  • Hornsby, Charles (2012). Kenya: A History Since Independence. London/New York: I. B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-886-2.
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