The newly appointed Kenya Army commander, Lieutenant General David Keter, has officially taken office.
Keter, who succeeds Lieutenant General David Tarus as the 24th commander, assumed leadership in a change of guard ceremony held Thursday at the Kenya Army headquarters in Nairobi.
He was appointed last week in a military shake-up announced by President William Ruto following the recommendations by the Defence Council.
Keter previously served as the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics at the Defence headquarters.
In his speech, Lt Gen Tarus, who has been redeployed to the National Defence University-Kenya (NDU-K) as the Vice Chancellor, congratulated his successor on his appointment.
He urged the service personnel present to extend their full support to the new commander, emphasising its importance for mission accomplishment.
“I am truly delighted to hand over the leadership of the Kenya Army today to Lt Gen Keter. Your extensive experience across various roles in the Kenya Defence Forces has equipped you with the capabilities necessary to lead the Army in our current dynamic and complex defence and security landscape,” he said.
“I wish you great success in fulfilling our core mission, accomplishing assigned tasks and achieving operational effectiveness and efficiency within the Army.”
Tarus also expressed gratitude to the service personnel for their resilience and dedication in fulfilling their duties with professionalism and integrity.
“I express my sincere gratitude to all members of the Kenya Army for their outstanding dedication to enhancing the safety and security of the republic of Kenya. I will always have respect for you all, for putting the needs of our country before your own interests. You are our Army and I am proud of all of you,” he added.
Keter, on his part, conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to the outgoing commander for his legacy and leadership during his tenure at the helm of the Kenya Army.
He pledged to uphold these qualities as he takes on his new role and acknowledged the significant contributions of his predecessor in fostering mission readiness.
“I want to recognise the enormous contributions of my predecessor, Lt Gen Tarus and all the Service Commanders who have served in the Kenya Army before me in shaping the Army into what it is today,” he stated.
“The progress made in the Army is, in many respects, the result of the vision, energy and leadership you provided during your time as Army Commander.”
Keter also committed to strengthening the Kenya Army’s capabilities to ensure that troops are well-equipped to achieve their mandate.
“To the Kenya Army personnel, I pledge to collaborate with each of you, providing leadership that is inclusive, supportive, and visionary. This means actively listening to your ideas, valuing your diverse perspectives, and ensuring you have the necessary training, resources, and support to excel in your roles," he said.
"Your courage, dedication, and expertise are the driving forces behind our success, and I am committed to fostering an environment where every individual can grow, thrive, and take pride in our shared mission. Together, we will achieve great things and uphold the highest standards of excellence."
Also present during the ceremony were Deputy Army Commander Major General Mohamed Hassan, General Officers, Formation Commanders, Senior Officers, Officers, Service Members and Headquarters Kenya Army staff.
