Veteran KDF Soldier Quits DRC Mission In Letter To EAC

Major General Jeff Nyagah resigned on Thursday, April 27 as the Force Commander for the East African Community (EAC) Regional Force deployed to tackle rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Nyagah, who was tasked with commanding soldiers drawn from East African countries, including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in November 2022, announced his resignation in a letter to the EAC Secretary General seen by Viral Tea.

In the letter, he denounced consistent harassment which posed a threat to his safety, citing an attempt to intimidate his security at his former residence through what he termed as mercenaries attempting to spy on him in January 2023

"I, The Force Commander of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) present my compliments to you the Honourable Secretary General of the East Africa Community (EAC) and have the pleasure to inform you of my exit from the mission area due to an aggravated threat to my safety and a systematic plan to frustrate efforts of the EACRF.

Brigadier Jeff Nyagah (left) taking over from Brigadier Paul Njema (right) at AMISOM Sector II Headquarters in Dhobley in February 2021. /FACEBOOK.KDF

"Honourable Secretary General, as you are aware, there was an attempt to intimidate my security at my former residence by deploying foreign military contractors (mercenaries) who placed monitoring devices, flew drones and conducted physical surveillance of my residence in early January 2023 forcing me to relocate," read the letter in part.

General Nyagah also cited financed negative media campaigns aimed at tarnishing his reputation through false accusations of the EACRF's complacency in dealing with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rebel group M23.

He also raised the issue with the suspension of the force's Facebook account, terming it an effort to possibly sabotage its efforts as well as the DRC's government's failure to settle administrative costs, including the electricity and accommodation of EACRF's headquarters offices and for staff officers.

"Honourable Secretary General, there has also been a well-orchestrated and financed negative media campaigns targeted at my personality and direct written false accusations of EACRF's complacency in the handling of the M23 group. This is further enhanced by the current push by the government of DRC to have the FC rotated every three (3) months which was not envisioned in the current mandate.

"Additionally, the recent suspension of the EACRF Facebook Account is an indication of possible sabotage of the Regional Force efforts. This is equally compounded by the government of DRC's failure to pay administrative costs including Force Headquarters Offices, Staff Officers' accommodation, electricity as well as salaries for civilian staff as per Article 9 (c) and (d) of the Status of Force Agreement (SOFA)," he added.

General Nyagah concluded by revealing that his security as the Force Commander was not guaranteed within the operation area, following the aforementioned findings and further assessment.

Further, he termed the ongoing frustration as one that has rendered his mission untenable hence the precautionary decision to exit the mission area.

"Honourable Secretary General, I express my profound gratitude to the EAC Heads of State, your Secretariat and the Chiefs of the Defence Forces/Staff for the support accorded to me during the period of my leadership as the Force Commander - EACRF," he concluded in the letter.

Shortly after his resignation, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) appointed Major General Alphaxard Muthuri Kiungi to take over his duties.

In the latest changes, Nyagah was redeployed to the position of General Officer of Western Command.

In February 2021, Nyagah was deployed to Somalia to lead the war against the terrorist group Al Shabaab. He commanded the KDF forces and worked under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until February 2022.

KDF soldiers during a prayer service at the airport before they boarded a plane to fly to DRC. /PEOPLE DAILY