Uhuru's Aide De Camp Among New Changes By Ruto In KDF [LIST]

President William Ruto has announced a series of senior promotions and appointments within the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), marking a significant restructuring of the military leadership.

According to a statement released on Friday, June 27, these changes followed recommendations made by the Defence Council, which Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Soipan Tuya chairs.

In a key appointment, Major General David Kipkemboi Keter has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and named Commander of the Kenya Army. He replaces Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Chemwaina Tarus, who has been redeployed to serve as Vice Chancellor of the National Defence University – Kenya (NDU-K).

Defence CS Soipan Tuya shakes hands with President William Ruto at the official opening of the ongoing 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Forces (ACHOD25) Conference in Nairobi County on May 28, 2025. /SOIPAN TUYA

Before this appointment, Lieutenant General Keter held the position of Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics.

Within the Kenya Air Force, Major General Benard Waliaula has been appointed the new Commander, taking over from Major General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed. Major General Waliaula previously served as the Director of Defence National Security Industries.

Other significant promotions include Brigadier Joel Muriungi M'arimi, who has been promoted to Major General and appointed as Commandant of the Kenya Military Academy. Previously, he was the Commander of the Armoured Brigade.

Brigadier Joyce Chelang’at Sitienei has also been promoted to Major General and will serve as Deputy Vice Chancellor, Centre for Strategic and Security Studies at the National Defence University – Kenya. She was formerly the Director of the International Peace Support Centre.

Additional senior promotions include Brigadier Faustino Mancha Lobaly, now Major General and appointed Director of National Defence Security Industries, and Brigadier Charles Lenjo Mwazighe, who has been promoted to Major General and named Director of the International Peace Support Centre.

Brigadier Mohamed Isak Iddi has been promoted to Major General and appointed Director at the Directorate of Oversight, Compliance and Accountability (DOCA), while Brigadier Edward Rugendo is now Major General and Director of Personnel and Logistics.

Brigadier Richard Wambua Mwanzia has similarly been promoted to Major General and will serve as Senior Directing Staff Army at the National Defence College.

At the same time, several colonels have been elevated to the rank of brigadier. Colonel Said Mohamed Mwacharo has been promoted to Brigadier and appointed Chief of Infrastructure, while Colonel Meshack Sinkira Kishoyian has been promoted to Brigadier and named Commander of 6 Brigade.

Colonel Herbert Mabele Wafula has been promoted to Brigadier and appointed Base Commander of Moi Airbase.

Colonel Ismail Guhad Noor has been promoted to Brigadier and appointed Deputy Managing Director at Kenya Ordnance Factories Limited and Food Processing Factory.

Colonel Victor Waithaka Kang’ethe has been promoted to Brigadier and named Director of the National Air Support Department (NASD), while Colonel Rodah Mkavita Mwasigwa has been elevated to Brigadier and appointed Chief of Compensation and Welfare at Defence Headquarters.

In addition, Brigadier Timothy Stelu Lekolool has been promoted to Major General and appointed Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College.

It is worth noting that Lekolool was promoted by former President Uhuru Kenyatta to Brigadier and deployed to the Department of Defence headquarters and served President Ruto during his first weeks as Head of State back in 2022.

Meanwhile, Colonel Ronald Mesa Makori has been promoted to Brigadier and appointed Chief of Strategic Plans and Policy, while Colonel Peter Musili Muthungu has been promoted to Brigadier and appointed Head of Production at Kenya Shipyard Limited.

Changes within the Kenya Navy include the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Wilfrida Atieno Omolo to Colonel, with an appointment as Commander of Kenya Navy Logistics.

Lieutenant Colonel Safari Katana Kalume has also been promoted to Colonel and appointed Senior Directing Staff at the Navy Joint Warfare Centre.

These sweeping changes reflect the government’s strategic vision to strengthen and modernise the leadership of the Kenya Defence Forces in alignment with evolving national and regional security priorities.

A photo of former Aide de Camp, Timothy Lekolool. /STANDARD DIGITAL