Commander of the Air Force (Kenya) explained

Post:Commander
Body:Kenya Air Force
Incumbent:Major General Fatumah Ahmed
Type:Commanding general
Reports To:Chief of Defence Forces
First: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.

List of Commanders of the Air Force

PortraitNameTerm of office
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1Group captain
Ian S Stockwell,
1 June 196422 Feb 1967[1]
2Group captain
Fred Rothwell,
23 Feb 196709 Aug 1971
3Group captain
David John Edwards,
10 Aug 197116 Apr 1973
4Colonel
Dedan Njuguna Gichuru,
17 Apr 197326 Jun 1980[2]
5Major general
Patrick Mwagiru Kariuki,
27 Jun 198011 Aug 1982
6Lieutenant general
Mohamed Haji Barrow Mohamud,
12 Aug 198213 Mar 1986
7Major general
Dedan Njuguna Gichuru,
14 Feb 19869 May 1989
8Major general
Duncan Kireri Wachira,
10 May 198928 June 1994
9Major general
Nick Letoluo Leshan,
29 June 199430 Nov 2000
10Major general
Simon Kiplimo Muttai,
01 Dec 200026 Nov 2003
11Major general
Julius Waweru Karangi,
27 Nov 200309 Aug 2005
12Major general
Harold Mwakio Tangai,
10 Aug 200512 Jul 2011
13Major general
Joff Otieno,
13 Jul 201130 Jul 2014
14Major general
Samuel Nganga Thuita,
31 July 201413 July 2018
15Major general
Francis Omondi Ogolla,
14 July 201822 July 2021[3]
16Major general
John Mugaravai Omenda,
23 July 202102 May 2024[4] [5]
17Major general
Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed, CBS, OGW, ‘ndc’ ‘psc'(K)
02 May 2024Incumbent

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of Commanders of the Kenya Air Force. 11 April 2022.
  2. Web site: 17 April. 28 December 2023.
  3. Web site: How General Francis Ogolla is Demystifying Chief of Defence Forces Position. 18 December 2023. 28 December 2023. Nation Africa. Angeline. Ochieng. Rushdie. Oudia.
  4. Web site: Ogolla appointed KDF vice chief in new postings. 23 July 2021. 28 December 2023. The Star.
  5. Web site: Major General John Mugaravai Omenda EBS SS OGW ‘rcds’ (UK) ‘psc’ (K) Commander Kenya Air Force. Kenya Ministry of Defence. 28 December 2023.