During his 42 years of service in military, General Samson Mwathethe, the outgoing Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) Chief of Defence, has kept a low profile, with Kenyans not knowing much about his family.
However, on Friday, May 8, Mwathethe finally unveiled the identity of his wife Amina and showered her with praises for standing with him throughout his career.
Mwathethe, while delivering his speech during his farewell ceremony at the DOD headquarters, thanked his wife for standing by him and taking care of the family during times that he was busy serving the country.
"While I spent most of my time pondering military tactics, strategies and plans, you steered the family. Your presence and valuable support and encouragement made every day better for me and our children," he began.
"Thank you for enduring the trials that come with being married to a military husband. I know there are days you probably felt that they were overworking me and probably underpaying me," he stated as the attendees clapped.
Mwathethe disclosed that the job was not a walk in the park, adding that it was sometimes stressful and marred with uncertainty.
"My 10-year as CDF has been without a doubt the highlight of my long career in the military service. A job that is sometimes stressful and uncertain," he stated.
Further, he thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta for the wise counsel he had offered him since his appointment in 2015.
"It has been an honour to serve him and to serve this nation," he stated.
On his part, Lieutenant General Robert Kariuki Kibochi, who took over as the new Chief of Defence Forces, thanked Mwathethe for being a great mentor to him throughout his service.
He acknowledged Mwathethe's crucial role in the country's security and his exemplary service for the 42 years.
"I am proud to take over from you having had great mentorship from you over the years," he stated.
Mwathethe took over from Rt Lt Gen Julius Karangi as CDF on April 17, 2015.
Below is a video courtesy of NTV;
