President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Monday, extended the term of service for the Chief of the Defense Forces General Samson Mwathethe for one year, effective May 6.
According to reports, the President made the decision based on the advice of the Defence Council.
Key sources in KDF and State House revealed that the extension was meant to allow Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai to settle in the National Security Council before the Chief of Defense Forces exits.
Mwathethe’s term as the country’s top soldier ended last month.
The 59-year-old took over from retired Chief of Defence Forces Julius Karangi in April 2015 for a single four-year tenure as outlined in the Kenya Defence Forces Act 2012.
Earlier reports had indicated that there was jostling for the influential position behind the scenes, with senior military officers at the rank of lieutenant general particularly from the Kenya Army eyeing the seat.
The KDF Act outlines the factors that must be considered by the Defence Council in the search for a new military boss.
They include seniority in the force, military and civil education including a relevant degree on defence matters as well as outstanding military and security experience.
The KDF Act also gives the president, who is also the commander in chief of defence forces, power to remove, retire or redeploy the chief of defence forces, his deputy or any of the service commanders before the expiry of their term in office.
The President also upheld recommendations by the Defence Council, Chaired by Defence Cabinet Secretary Amb Rachael Omamo on various promotions, appointments, and postings of the officers of the Kenya Defence Forces.
