Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have appointed their first-ever female spokesperson, as Defence Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma announced more changes in the military as Major General Robert Kibochi took over from General Samson Mwathethe.
Colonel Zipporah Kioko was appointed the new spokesperson, taking over from Colonel Paul Njuguna who will be redeployed.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, CS Juma emphasised that Kioko's appointment was streamlined with gender changes in the military, which were initiated by President Uhuru Kenyatta when he launched the National Defence Policy and the Gender Policy in 2017.
The National Defence Policy forms a basis on which KDF strategies are anchored while the Gender Policy adopts the global best practice, in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women peace and security.
"I thank you most sincerely for supporting gender mainstreaming in KDF where for the first time we have a number of women officers who have been promoted to serve in senior positions.
"I am delighted that we in this cohort have the first woman spokesperson of the KDF and look forward to working with Colonel Zipporah Kioko," Juma stated.
Kioko joined the military in 2018 and was promoted to a spokesperson on April 30 as Kenyatta announced changes in the KDF.
She has bestowed the colonel rank during the announcements, becoming one of the few women with senior military positions.
Major General Fatuma Ahmed is the only woman above the colonel rank after she was appointed first female KDF Brigadier in 2015 and first female Major General in 2018.
Kioko will take charge of the Public Affairs Department in KDF.
Video: Daily Nation
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