Commander, Kenya Navy

Commander, Kenya Navy of Kenya Navy
Incumbent Major General Paul Owuor Otieno since May 2, 2024 (2024-05-02)
Kenya Defence Forces
Reports to	Chief of Defence Forces
Appointer	President of Kenya
Term length	At the President’s pleasure
Formation	December 10, 1964 (1964-12-10)
First holder	Cdr E. M. C. Walker, RN
Website	Official website

The Commander, Kenya Navy (Swahili: Kamanda, Jeshi la Wanamaji) is the professional head and highest-ranking officer of the Kenya Navy. The Commander exercises full command over the service, oversees operations, administration, training and modernization, and reports to the Chief of Defence Forces under the authority of the President of Kenya, who is the Commander-in-Chief. ^[1] Established in 1964, the post was initially held by officers of the Royal Navy before transition to Kenyan command in 1972, when Lt Col J. C. J. Kimaro became the first Kenyan to head the service. ^{[2] [3]}

Responsibilities

• Operational command and deployment of naval forces and assets.
• Administration, discipline, training, and personnel welfare across the service.
• Representing the Navy in joint/combined activities and state ceremonies, including the biannual Kenya Navy Divisions parade. ^[4]

History

No.		Name	Term of office			Ref.
	Official Portrait		Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Commander E. M. C. Walker	10 Dec 1964	31 Jul 1967	2 years, 233 days
2		Commander Anthony Allen Pearse	1 Aug 1967	1 Oct 1969	2 years, 61 days
3		Commander W. A. E. Hall	2 Oct 1969	31 Oct 1972	3 years, 29 days
4		Lieutenant colonel James Collins J. Kimaro	1 Nov 1972	11 Feb 1978	5 years, 102 days
5		Major General Eliud Simon Mbilu	12 Feb 1978	1 Apr 1988	10 years, 49 days
6		Major General Joseph Raymond Edward Kibwana	2 Apr 1988	1 May 1998	10 years, 29 days
7		Major General Aboud Abdalla Rafrouf	2 May 1998	30 Nov 2001	3 years, 212 days
8		Major General Pastor Omudho Awitta, MGH, EBS	1 Dec 2001	26 Jul 2006	4 years, 237 days
9		Major General Samson Jefwa Mwathethe, EGH, MBS, DCO, 'ndc' (K) 'psc' (UK)	27 Jul 2006	12 Jul 2011	4 years, 350 days
10		Major General Ngewa Mukala, MGH, EBS, DCO 'ndc' (K), 'psc'(K)	13 Jul 2011	10 Aug 2015	4 years, 28 days
11		Major General Levi Franklin Mghalu, MGH, MBS, 'ndc' (K), 'psn' (RSA)	11 Aug 2015	11 May 2020	4 years, 268 days
12		Major General Jimson Longiro Mutai, MGH, MBS 'ndc'(K) 'psc'(K)	12 May 2020	8 March 2024	5 years, 92 days
13		Major general Thomas Njoroge Nganga EBS HSC ‘ndu’ ‘psc'(USA) [5]	8 March 2024	02 May 2024	56 days
14		Major General Paul Owuor Otieno EBS ‘ndc’(K) ‘psc'(K)	2 May 2024	incumbent

See also

• Kenya Navy
• Kenya Defence Forces
• Chief of Defence Forces (Kenya)

References

1. "Commanders of the Kenya Navy". Ministry of Defence (Kenya). Retrieved 11 August 2025.
2. "Kenya Navy". Wikipedia. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
3. "J. C. J. Kimaro". Wikipedia. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
4. "Kenya Navy reaffirms unity and readiness during August 2025 Divisions". Ministry of Defence (Kenya). 8 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
5. Swearing-in of the Kenya Defence Forces Vice Chief and Service Commanders, State House, Nairobi. , retrieved 9 March 2024

External links

• Official website