Commander of the Air Force (Kenya)

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Commander of Kenya Air Force
since 2 May 2024 (2024-05-02)
Air Force Ensign of Kenya.svg  Kenya Air Force
Type Commanding general
Reports to Chief of Defence Forces
Formation1964;60 years ago (1964)
First holder Group Captain Ian Stockwell

The Commanders of the Air Force is the head of the Kenya Air Force. The post was created in 1964 with Group Captain Ian Stockwell of the Royal Air Force as the first commander. The current Commanders of the Air Force is Maj. Gen. Fatumah Ahmed, who was appointed on 2 May 2024. [1]

List of Commanders of the Air Force

No.PortraitNameTerm of officeRef.
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 No image.png Group captain
Ian S Stockwell
(1917–1998)
1 June 196422 February 19672 years, 266 days [2]
2 No image.png Group captain
Fred Rothwell
23 February 19679 August 19714 years, 167 days [2]
3 No image.png Group captain
David John Edwards
10 August 197116 April 19731 year, 249 days [2]
4 No image.png Colonel
Dedan Njuguna Gichuru
17 April 197326 June 19807 years, 70 days [2] [3]
5 No image.png Major general
Patrick Mwagiru Kariuki
27 June 198011 August 19822 years, 45 days [2]
6 No image.png Lieutenant general
Mohamed Haji Barrow Mohamud
12 August 198213 March 19863 years, 213 days [2]
7 No image.png Major general
Dedan Njuguna Gichuru
14 February 19869 May 19893 years, 84 days [2]
8 No image.png Major general
Duncan Kireri Wachira
10 May 198928 June 19945 years, 49 days [2]
9 No image.png Major general
Nick Letoluo Leshan
29 June 199430 November 20006 years, 154 days [2]
10 No image.png Major general
Simon Kiplimo Muttai
1 December 200026 November 20032 years, 360 days [2]
11 140715-D-KC128-131 Martin E. Dempsey talks with Kenyan Chief of Defense Force Gen. Julius Waweru Karangi (cropped).jpg Major general
Julius Waweru Karangi
(born 1951)
27 November 20039 August 20051 year, 255 days [2]
12 No image.png Major general
Harold Mwakio Tangai
10 August 200512 July 20115 years, 336 days [2]
13 No image.png Major general
Joff Otieno
13 July 201130 July 20143 years, 17 days [2]
14 No image.png Major general
Samuel Nganga Thuita
31 July 201413 July 20183 years, 347 days [2]
15 No image.png Major general
Francis Omondi Ogolla
(1962–2024)
14 July 201822 July 20213 years, 8 days [2] [4]
16 No image.png Major general
John Mugaravai Omenda
23 July 20212 May 20242 years, 284 days [1] [2] [5]
17 No image.png Major general
Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed
(born c.1966)
2 May 2024Incumbent198 days [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Ogolla appointed KDF vice chief in new postings". The Star. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "History of Commanders of the Kenya Air Force" . Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. "17 April" . Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  4. Ochieng, Angeline; Oudia, Rushdie (18 December 2023). "How General Francis Ogolla is Demystifying Chief of Defence Forces Position". Nation Africa. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  5. "Major General John Mugaravai Omenda EBS SS OGW 'rcds' (UK) 'psc' (K) Commander Kenya Air Force". Kenya Ministry of Defence . Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  6. Barasa, Lucas (3 May 2024). "The rise and rise of Maj-Gen Fatuma Ahmed, Kenya's first woman service commander". nation.africa. Retrieved 16 November 2024.