The Kenya Defence Forces has had seven military chiefs since independence. They are:
General Jackson Mulinge 1971- 1986
General Jackson Mulinge was Kenya's longest serving military chief. Mulinge was born in 1924, in Kathiani District, Machakos County.
He was educated at the African Inland Mission School in Machakos before joining the Kings African Rifles Education Services for higher education.
He enlisted in 1942 to the then Kings African Rifles and served in the World War 11 in Malaysia.
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Mulinge rose through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class One in 1956 and was the first African officer in Kenya to be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1961.
He was appointed Platoon Commander in the 3rd Battalion Kings African Rifles (3KAR) and was later promoted to become rank of Major General in 1971.
He held several honours, including Elder of the Golden Heart (EGH), Moran of the Golden Heart (MGH), Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS) and Distinguished Conduct Order (DCO).
General Mohamud Mohamed (1986 to 1996)
He was the Kenya Airforce Commander in 1982 when he was actively involved in crushing the coup attempt against the government of President Daniel arap Moi.
He took over as Chief of General Staff from General Mulinge in 1986 and served in that capacity for ten years until 1996.
General Daudi Tonje (1996 to 2000)
Popularly known as the CGS who reformed the military, General Daudi Tonje was appointed the Chief of General Staff in November 1996 and served until 2000.
As CGS, he introduced measures to profesionilse the force including allowing women soldiers to marry and ensuring that promotions in the force are pegged on academic performance.
Major General Joseph Kibwana (2000 to 2005)
General Joseph Kibwana joined the Kenya Navy in 1964 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant on January 1, 1967.
He served in various senior ranks in the Kenya Navy and was also Chief of Military Intelligence from 1982 to 1985.
In May 1998, he became Lieutenant General and took over as the Commandant of Kenya’s National Defence College.
He became Chief of General Staff on December 1, 2000 and served until 2005.
General Jeremiah Kianga (2005 to 2011)
General Jeremiah Mutinda Kianga joined the Armed Forces in 1971 as a Cadet Officer and was commissioned in 1973.
He served the force for more than 40 years in various capacities including diplomatic, staff, command and training establishments, rising through the ranks to the top.
He served as Defence Attache, General Officer Commanding (Eastern Command), Deputy Commander and also Commander of the Kenya Army.
He was appointed the Chief of General Staff on September 1, 2005.
Gen Julius Waweru Karangi (2011-to 2015)
He joined Kenya Air Force in 1973 and after Cadet training in UK, he was commissioned as an officer in 1974.
After qualifying as a Flight Navigator in October 1975 in the Royal Air Force in England, he was posted to Flying Wing Kenya Air Force where he worked as a Navigator.
In 1995 he became Commander of Kenya Air Force Base, Moi Air Base and then in 1997, he was appointed Commander of the Kenya Air Force Logistics Command.
In 2000to 2003 he was promoted to the position of Commandant Defence Staff College, Karen rank of Major General, after which he was appointed before he was made Commander of the Kenya Air-force between 2003-2005
In August 2005, Karangi was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and Vice Chief of Defence Forces, Defence Headquarters.
And then On 13 July 2011 he was promoted to the rank of General and appointed the position of Chief of Defence Forces.
General Mwathethe (2015 to date)
General Mwathethe was born in Malindi and educated at Shimo La Tewa and Sacred Heart High Schools Mombasa.
Mwathethe joined the Kenya Navy in April 1978 and was commissioned in 1980 as a Seaman Officer after attending Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, UK.
Hi professional and military training include International Sub-Lieutenants Course (UK), International Principal Warfare (IPWO) Course (UK), Missiles Course (ITALY) and the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, (UK) in 1989
Before he served with the United Nations as a Military Observer in Kuwait/Iraq and Yugoslavia in 1991/92.
He then attended the Defence Resource Management Course in Monterey, USA in 1998, and the National Defence College in Nairobi, Kenya in 2000.
He has held various command appointments including Vice Chief of the Defence Forces, Commander Kenya Navy, Deputy Commander Kenya Navy, Kenya Navy logistics Commander, Base Commander Mtongwe and Fleet Commander.
