William Ruto Appoints Kenya's Highest Ranking Female KDF Officer as Kenya Air Force Commander
- Major General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed made history by becoming Kenya's highest-ranking Kenya Defence Forces Officer during former president Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure
- President William Ruto appointed her as Kenya Air Force Commander, making her the first female Kenyan military officer to command a service
- Ahmed, who also served at the National Defence College, will replace the newly promoted Lieutenant General John Mugaravai Omenda
Michael Ollinga is a journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 10 years of experience covering courts and crimes, special reports, and current affairs in Kenya.
President William Ruto has appointed Major General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed as the Commander of the Kenya Air Force.
Source: Facebook
Who is the highest-ranking female KDF officer?
The appointment on Thursday, May 2, makes Ahmed the first female military officer to be a service commander.
PAY ATTENTION: Do you have a video that never fails to make you smile? Spread the positivity by sharing it with us via WhatsApp: 0732482690.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has three service units: the Kenya Army, the Kenya Navy, and the Kenya Air Force.
Ahmed made history as she was promoted to the brigadier rank in 2015. She was the first female military officer to attain such a rank.
Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed makes history again
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta promoted her to the Major General rank in 2018. She was also the first woman to reach such heights in KDF.
In May 2023, Ruto posted Ahmed to the National Defence College. He appointed her senior directing staff.
Who is Kenya Air Force Commander?
About a year later, Ruto entrusted Ahmed with another first by making her the commander of the Kenya Air Force, which was once headed by the late Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla.
Ahmed's promotion is a testament to the major transformations the KDF has undergone to allow women opportunities to rise through the ranks based on merit.
Uhuru said that her promotion to Major General was a proud moment for Kenya.
The new appointment means that Ahmed will replace newly promoted Lieutenant General John Mugaravai at the helm of Kenya Air Force.
During the latest appointments and promotions, Ruto promoted Major General John Mugaravai to Lieutenant General and appointed him Vice Chief of Defence Forces.
This means that Mugaravai is a three-star general, only second to newly-appointed CDF General Charles Muriu Kahariri.
Who is Major General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed?
The Standard, citing KDF publications, reported that Ahmed was enlisted in KDF in 1983 when she served under the Women's Service Corps. In 1985, she was commissioned as Second Lieutenant and posted to the Kenya Air Force.
She also served as Battalion Second in Command (BN 2IC), Staff Officer II Audit Personnel and Records, Staff Officer I Personnel and Administration, Colonel Personnel at the Kenya Air Force Headquarters, and as the Managing Director of the Defence Forces Medical Insurance Scheme.
Ahmed graduated from the National Defence College, now National Defence University, a centre of excellence in the military, and is the 2000 alumna of the Defence Staff College.
She has a diploma in management from Strathmore University College.
A retired Kenya Air Force officer who talked to TUKO.co.ke on anonymity recalled their days with Ahmed at the Defence Staff College.
"We went to Defence Staff College together with Maj. Gen. Fatuma. She hails from Nanyuki and speaks both Gīkūyū and Kimeru fluently. She can handle it, but it's not that easy, as she has never been in command at any level," the officer expressed confidence in Gaiti.
Ahmed's promotion came after Ruto promoted Lieutenant General Charles Kahariri to General and appointed him Chief of Defence Forces.
This follows the death of former Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla in a helicopter accident two weeks ago.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
