Samuel Thuita replaces Joff Otieno as Kenya Airforce Commander in major military changes

Retired Kenya Airforce Commander Maj Gen Joff Otieno.

Nairobi, Kenya: Kenya Airforce Commander Maj Gen Joff Otieno has been retired and replaced by Maj Gen Samuel Nganga Thuita in major changes in the military.

The Defence Council met on Wednesday and made the changes before it met President Kenyatta who approved them.

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Julius Karangi convened a Board One meeting - the highest decision making organ to appoint, promote, and post senior officers prompting speculations.

Otieno was retired on grounds of age.

Board One deals with officers from the rank of major to lieutenants general.

The meeting was attended by the Defence Cabinet Secretary Rachael Omamo and Service Commanders Lt Gen J Kasaon (Army), Maj-Gen Joff Otieno (Airforce) and Maj-Gen Ngewa Mukala (Navy).

The commanders later went to State House where they spent several hours explaining to the president on the changes they had proposed.

The changes came at a time when there are many pending retirements and promotions among a number of senior officers.

Under the internal administrative rules popularly known as Tonje Rule, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) retires at 62 years while lieutenant-generals and major-generals retire at the age of 58 and 56 respectively if they are not promoted to the next rank.

The rules are applicable to the CDF, the Kenya Army Commander, the Kenya Air Force Commander and the Kenya Navy Commander.

But an officer can retire at a younger age if he has been a service commander for four years.

The Tonje Rules also allow the CDF position to rotate between the Army, Air Force and Navy. Gen Karangi is from the Air Force and, in the event that he leaves, the position of CDF will most likely go to a general from the Navy.

The rules are largely guidelines, which are subject to the decision of the President.

Here are other changes that have been made in the military:

Appointments

Major General Jonathan Kipkemboi Rono- Appointed Deputy Force Commander African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Major General Samuel Wesonga Nandwa - Appointed Assistant Chief of Defence Forces Personnel and Logistics Defence Headquarters.

Brigadier  AntonyMukundi Ngere- Appointed General Officer Commanding Western Command.

Brigadier Benjamin Biwott - Appointed General Officer Commanding Eastern Command.

Brigadier  Jossiah Mrashui - Appointed, Chief Strategic Plans &Policy Defence Headquarters.

Brigadier Francis Omondi Ogolla - Appointed Deputy Commander Kenya Air Force.

Brigadier   Christopher Riugu Imanene - Appointed Chief of  Logistics Defense Headquarters.

Promotions

Brigadier Robert Kariuki Kibochi - Promoted to Major General and appointed Assistant Chief of Defence Forces Operations, Doctrine and Training Defence Headquarters.

Brigadier George Owino - Promoted to Major General and appointed Commandant Defence Staff College.

Brigadier Samuel Ng’ang’a Thuita - Promoted to Major General and appointed Commander Kenya Air Force.

Colonel Joseph Mutwii Kivunzi - Promoted to Brigadier and appointed SDS Army National Defence College.

Colonel Thomas Chepkuto - Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Commandant Joint War fare Centre (JWC).

Colonel l Isaac Muchendu - Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Chief of Personnel Headquarter Kenya Army.

Colonel David Azangu Ngaira - Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Commander Engineer Brigade.

Colonel John Kibaso Warioba - Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Commander 2 Brigade.

Colonel John Mwangi - Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Commander Artillery Brigade.

Colonel Mohamed Abdalla Badi - Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Base Commander Moi Air Base.

Colonel Eric Kinuthia - Promoted to Brigadier and appointed Base Commander Laikipia Air Base.