Brigadier Joseph Douglas Mokwena of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has made history as the first Kenyan Flag Officer to lead Sector West in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
Brigadier Mokwena was earlier based at the Sector West Headquarters in Bouar, where he presided over troops from Bangladesh, Tanzania, and Cameroon.
He also commanded the Peru Engineering Company and Senegal's Quick Reaction Force, alongside specialised units such as Bangladesh's Medical Level II Hospital and Aviation Detachment.
Before taking over the office, he had earlier visited the MINUSCA Force Commander, Lt Gen Humphrey Nyone of Zambia, at the Force Headquarters in Bangui, CAR. He conducted a familiarisation tour to understand the Mission and sector he now commanded.
Previously, Sector West leadership rotated among officers from other countries, including Serbia and Burkina Faso.
Kenya's role had been limited to Military Observers and Staff Officers, making Brigadier Mokwena's command a historic elevation for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
The United Nations and the MINUSCA leadership expressed their appreciation of Kenya's contribution.
They highlighted that such participation strengthens MINUSCA's impartiality, effectiveness, and representation of global peacekeeping values.
The Kenyan Senior Officer serving in MINUSCA symbolised Kenya's ongoing role as a champion of peace and stability in Africa and around the world.
"The presence of a Kenyan Senior Officer at MINUSCA carries the aspiration of a Nation that has consistently championed peace and stability across the African continent and beyond," KDF stated.
For Kenyan soldiers, his leadership was a source of pride and professional growth. It marked a shift from support roles to leading multinational forces, offering them the chance to gain experience managing diverse contingents and coordinating complex UN mandates such as civilian protection and disarmament.
Kenya's senior leadership role in MINUSCA not only brought valuable operational diversity to the Mission but also reinforced the nation's growing involvement in continental and global peacekeeping.
