Kenya appoints new military head
Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday announced the promotion of Lieutenant General Charles Muriu Kahariri to the rank of General and appointed him as the new Chief of Defense Forces following the death of General Francis Ogolla in a helicopter crash in April.
Kahariri had previously served as deputy to Ogolla, 62, who had been Chief of Defence Forces for a year and was about to mark 40 years of military service.
A former Kenya Navy deputy commander, Kahariri joined the Kenya Defence Forces in April 1987, rising through the ranks during “his illustrious career spanning over three decades”, according to a defence ministry profile.
On the same day, Kenya Air Force Commander Major General John Omenda was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and named as the new Vice Chief of Defense Forces.
She replaces John Mugaravai Omenda who was promoted to Vice Chief of the Defence Forces and the rank of lieutenant general.
