- Before this appointment, General Francis Omondi Ogolla was the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces.
- The President has also appointed Lt Genn Jonah Mwangi as the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF).
Image: Handout
Gen Francis Ogolla has been named the new Chief of Defence Forces in changes in the military.
Ogolla has taken over from General Robert Kibochi who departs after attaining the mandatory exit age of 62.
President William Ruto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, on Friday promoted Ogolla to the rank of General.
Before the appointment, General Ogolla was the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces.
Gen Ogolla is a graduate of ÉcoleMilitaire de Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya.
He holds a Diploma in International Studies and Military Science from Egerton University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict and Peace Studies (First Class Honors) and Masters of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.
He rose through the ranks to become a Major General and was appointed the Commander Kenya Air Force on July 15, 2018, a post he has served for three years.
Ruto also appointed Lt Gen Jonah Mwangi as the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF).
Before his appointment, Lieutenant General Mwangi was the Vice Chancellor, National Defence University - Kenya.
Major General Said Farah has taken over from Lt Gen Mwangi as Vice Chancellor, National Defence University - Kenya.
Further, the President upheld the Defence Council's recommendations and made various promotions, postings and appointments of KDF on the advice of the Defence Council, chaired by Cabinet Secretary for Defence Adan Duale which met on Friday.
Major General David Kimaiyo Tarus was appointed deputy commander Kenya Army while Maj Gen William Shume was appointed officer in charge, border security command.
Maj Gen Alphaxard Kiugu was appointed the force commander of East Africa Community Regional Force-DRC to replace Maj Gen Jeff Nyagah who was named the General Officer Western Command while Maj Gen Eric Kinuthia was appointed the senior directing staff Air National Defence College.
The immediate former Director of Military Intelligence, Maj Gen Said Mohamed Farah, was moved to the National Defence College and named the Vice Chancellor, while Brig Yahya Abdi was appointed the deputy commander of Kenya Navy.
Brig David Keter was promoted to Maj Gen and appointed Assistant CDF personnel and logistics while Brig Stephen Mutuku was promoted to the rank of Maj Gen and named the senior directing staff Army at NDC.
The Council also promoted Brig John Nkoimo to Maj Gen and named him commandant, Joint Command Staff College, while Brig Abdulkadir Burje was promoted to Maj Gen and named the Director of Military Intelligence.
Brig Paul Owuor Otieno was promoted to the Maj Gen and named Managing Director of Kenya Shipyards Limited, while Col Anthony Rotich was promoted to the rank of Brig and named the commander Military Intelligence Corps.
Col Alfred Gitonga was promoted to Brig and appointed director of the military coordination centre.