President Uhuru Kenyatta has made history by appointing Brigadier Fatma Ahmed to the position of Major General in the Kenya Defence Forces with the full title of Assistant Chief of the Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics.
Major General Fatma was in 2015 promoted to the rank of a colonel, at the time still the highest ranking female military operative with the title of brigadier.
President Kenyatta acknowledged the feat as a great achievement urging the major general to inspire more women in the armed forces to rise through the ranks.
"It's my pride and joy today to launch the first Kenyan woman as a major general in the Republic of Kenya, I'm looking at you and counting on you to be a positive role model to other women and to prove to them that there are no limits," the president remarked.
[caption caption="First woman Major General Fatma Ahmed during a past address "]
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Before the Friday promotion, Ahmed also served as the Managing Director Defence Forces Medical Insurance Scheme (DEFMIS).
Ahmed is a graduate of the prestigious National Defence College and the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies.
She joined the military in 1983 and served in the Women Service Corps before the unit was integrated into the main military structure and was in 1985 graduated into the force as a Second Lieutenant in the Airforce.
The rank of major general is the third highest after General and Lieutenant General.
In the new appointments, Lt. General Robert Kibochi has been appointed the Vice Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces after the retirement of Lt. General Joseph Kasaon.
Lt. General Raria Koipaton takes over as Commander of the Kenya Army while Maj. General Francis Ogolla is the new Commander of the Kenya Airforce.
President Kenyatta also congratulated other military officials who had been promoted within the forces.
"I take this opportunity to congratulate the new VCDF Gen. Kibochi, you have had a sterling career in the army and I look forward to you using skills and vast experience you have acquired in the Kenya Army to your new role in the service of the entire KDF as the VCDF," the commander-in-chief noted.
Here are photos of Ahmed with the president soon after she took the oath.
[caption caption="President Kenyatta with newly sworn in Major General Fatuma Ahmed"]
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