Kenyan to head UN Mission in Liberia

By Cyrus Ombati

A Kenyan military general has been appointed as the Force Commander to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Major Gen Leonard Ngondi was appointed by the Secretariat of the United Nations to take over from Major Gen Muhammed Khalid of Pakistan whose term is due to expire mid December 2012.

Prior to this appointment, Major Gen Ngondi, was the Commander Western Command in Kenya (WESTCOM).

A statement from the Department of Defence said the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), General Julius Karangi congratulated Major Gen Ngondi on his new appointment.

“This appointment is another testament to the level of respect that KDF commands in the international arena, and a show of confidence on KDF professionalism,” read part of the statement.

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UNMIL is a multinational peacekeeping force established in 2003 to monitor the ceasefire agreement between various warring factions in Liberia.

KDF continues to participate in numerous peacekeeping missions around the globe.

Currently the Kenyan troops are engaged in Sudan under United Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), United Nations/AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and in Somalia under the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).