KDF gets new boss as ATMIS exit from Somalia kicks off

KDF's new boss Gen Francis Ogolla. Image: Handout

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Kenya Defence Forces [KDF] will now be under a new boss following Friday's promotions and appointments recommended by the Defence Council and subsequent approval by President William Ruto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of the East African nation.

Lt. General Francis Ogolla, an airman, will now take over from landman General Robert Kibochi who retires having served as Chief of Defense Forces for three years and whose exit was triggered by attainment of mandatory retirement age as prescribed in the KDF doctrines commonly known as Tonje Rules within military circles.

Ogolla, a trained Fighter jet pilot from the US, previously served as Air Force Commander before being promoted to Lt General rank in 2020 and subsequently, appointed as the Vice Chief of Defense Forces. Gen Ogolla will be deputized by Lt General Jonah Mwangi who has been serving as the Vice Chancellor, of National Defence University, and now takes over as the Vice CDF.

There were speculations that Kibochi's term would have been extended by one more year given that KDF is involved in active regional missions in Somalia and DR Congo, which would have effectively ended Ogolla's career given that retirement is on the horizon, just like his contemporary, Lt. General Mohamed Badi.

In the event of Kibochi's extension, both Ogolla and Badi, who are currently the senior airmen, would have either retired or posted to foreign missions to pave the way for a new succession strategy. In line with this, current Air Force Commander Maj Gen John Omenda would have been promoted to Lt. General rank awaiting succession next year.

But President William Ruto chose the shortest path of succession by preferring the senior most airman, who was in pole position for succession, but whose reputation was badly injured in the run to August 2022 elections. Former electoral commission boss Wafula Chebukati had linked Ogolla to an alleged scheme to have opposition leader Raila Odinga declared president.

The position of CDF rotates among the three services [navy, army, and air force] in what is commonly referred to as the Tonje Rules—in honor of Gen Daudi Tonje, who came up with them. The rules state that the position holder serves a period of one term [four years] with a possible extension of one year at the pleasure of the commander-in-chief.

Sources said General Ogolla’s excellent educational background also made him an ideal candidate to navigate the challenges of modern day-to-day defense duties in, among others intelligence analysis, countering terrorism, and accident investigations.

The country has no record of a CDF officer who went to retirement before the completion of their term. However, the decision to retire him after his attainment of the retirement age is a prerogative of the commander-in-chief. With Gen Kibochi having come from the Army, and Gen Ogolla from the Air Force, the next CDF will come from the Kenya Navy. The unit’s highest-ranking officer is Major Gen Jimson Mutai.

Ogolla takes over at the time Kenya is actively engaged in regional peace initiatives starting with Somalia, a country where KDF has been pursuing Al-Shabaab militants for the last 12 years. There are about 3,500 KDF soldiers in Somalia serving under African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS].

Early this week, various stakeholders convened a meeting in Kampala where the extension of ATMIS stay was ruled out, with the team asked to plan an exit strategy that will see Somalia National Army [SNA] take over security responsibilities from ATMIS. Equally, Kenya is currently leading the East Africa Community Regional Force [EACRF] in DR Congo where M23 rebels have been fighting to topple the government.

GAROWE ONLINE