Kenya's incoming Chief of Defence Forces Major General Robert Kibochi will play a crucial role in Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 ambitions, and other presidential hopefuls as he will be at the centre stage of transition of power from President Uhuru Kenyatta's government in 2022.
African Union envoy Raila Odinga (Orange Democratic Movement leader) and Ruto have been engaging in a heated debate over 2022 succession politics, with the Building Bridges Initiative taking a centre stage of the war between the rival camps. Kibochi's role will be to ensure a smooth transition and quell any unsatisfactory voices.
Kibochi (from Nyandarua County) is a member of the statutory Assumption of the Office of President Committee, which oversees the inauguration of the president-elect.
Among the roles of the office are handling the handing over of power and putting in place security measures for the incoming president.
According to the Constitution, Kibicho is also a member of the National Security Council which provides the president-elect with security briefs.
Speculations are rife on who Kenyatta will endorse for 2022, as Odinga's camp remain adamant that the BBI and March 2018 handshake isn't being used to pave way for Odinga, a perspective Ruto's camp differs with.
Duale, on April 28, 2020, argued that Kenyatta and Ruto were playing Odinga and the Head of State would betray the ODM leader in 2022.
"You think you have fixed William Ruto, you will be shocked. 'Baba' will be shocked. There is a secret card between Uhuru and Ruto," Duale warned.
A report by The Standard on Saturday, May 2, added that Kibochi will also oversee the planned withdrawal of Kenya Defence Forces from Somalia.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on March 4, 2020, Government Spokesperson Colonel Cyrus Oguna stated that KDF soldiers who are part of the Amisom peacekeeping mission are expected to exit Somalia in a drawdown inline with the AU timelines on stability.
"Amisom cannot be in Somalia forever. So the drawdown means that we will gradually decrease the numbers because now Somalia is much better than when we went there," Colonel Oguna stated.
The soldiers were dispatched to Somalia on the night of October 16, 2011.
Kibochi's term commences on Monday, May 11 and the 61-year-old will serve for four years, meaning he would serve two years under Kenyatta and two under the next president.
