President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday appointed general Robert Kibochi as the new chief of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), replacing general Samson Mwathethe who is retiring.
Until his appointment, Kibochi was the vice chief of the KDF and had also served as Commander of the Kenya Army, Assistant Chief of the Defence Forces in charge of Operations, Plans, Doctrine and Training at Defence Headquarters.
He also held positions of chief of Strategic Plans and Policy, Director International Peace Support Training Centre, Col Operations Requirements (CIS), and Commander Corps of Signals.
Kibochi holds a Masters Degree in Arts in International Studies, Masters Degree in Computer-Based Information Systems, Bachelors of Technology in Communication and Electronics Engineering, and has been pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Peace and Conflict Management.
While announcing his appointment, president Kenyatta first promoted him from Lieutenant general to general, before he announced him as Mwathethe’s successor.
Mwathethe, who hails from the Coast region in Kilifi county, has served as KDF chief since 2015 and oversaw several key assignments including KDF’s military deployment in Somalia under AMISOM.
“During your tenure, you proved that you are not just a military man, but a well-rounded person, with the capacity to provide quality leadership in other initiatives of national importance,” Kenyatta told Mwathethe who stood next to him.
Other appointments made by the president include major General Levi Mghalu who was promoted to Lieutenant General and made vice chief of the KDF and brigadier Jimson Mutai who was elevated to the rank of Major General and made commander of the Kenya Navy.
All the appointments take effect on May 11th.
