Kenya's Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi made his maiden flight outside Kenya to India as CDF on Tuesday, November 10.
General Kibochi, accompanied by his wife Tabitha were received by Kenya’s High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Willy Bett and the Defence Attaché to India Colonel Lazarus Wafula.
The KDF general toured his alma mater, the Military College of Telecommunications Engineering, and was recognised as the only alumnus of the school to achieve the rank of CDF.
The Military College's Commandant took pride in the visit and termed it as a high level 'homecoming’ to the institution where Kibochi enrolled in the Signal Officer’s Degree in Engineering (SODE) course.
“We take immense pride that the Kenyan Chief of Defence Forces is an alumnus of the Signal Officer’s Degree Engineering (SODE) Course. We are proud that he is the first India-trained officer to become the Chief of the Defence Forces of Kenya,” praised Lieutenant General Vadlamani Srednivas, Commandant Army War College, MHOW
CDF Kibochi and his spouse were taken to the house his family resided during his stay as well as to the class he sat in.
During the visit, he was allowed time to speak to young officers undertaking a course he studied 33 years ago.
The CDF’s visit to India happens at a time when bilateral relationships between India and Kenya are poised for deeper engagement.
The MCTE Commandant also penned a tribute about Kibochi on the wall of the college in honour of the KDF General.
The tribute in part reads;
“The officer pursued his SODE course with zeal and acquired excellence in communication engineering concepts and practical nuances; of field communication provisioning tasks, thereby he secured recognisable merit when he graduated from MCTE, Mhow.
The Officer was popular amongst his peer group and a keen sportsman who could contribute to the sporting laurels of SODE – 53 Course through his skilled contribution in Football and Volleyball.
MCTE, MHoW very fondly and proudly recognises the achievement of the moran warrior Gen Robert Kariuki Kibochi and wishes him all the best in all his professional endeavours.”
