Commander, Kenya Army
Most senior officer in the Kenya Army
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The commander, Kenya Army is the chief and highest-ranking officer of the Kenya Army The current commander is Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Tarus.
Reports toChief of Defence Forces
AppointerThe president
Formation12 December 1963
First holderIan Freeland
| Commander, Kenya Army | |
|---|---|
Flag of Kenya Army | |
 Incumbent since 27 June 2025David Kipkemboi Ketter | |
 Kenya Army | |
| Reports to | Chief of Defence Forces |
| Appointer | The president |
| Formation | 12 December 1963 |
| First holder | Ian Freeland |
| Deputy | Deputy Army Commander |
List of officeholders
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) |
Term of office | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 | Major General Ian Freeland (1912–1979) |
12 December 1963 | 30 April 1964 | 140 days | [1][2] | |
| 2 | Brigadier A. J. Hardy |
1 May 1964 | 30 November 1966 | 2 years, 213 days | [3][2] | |
| 3 | Brigadier Joseph Musyimi Lele Ndolo |
1 December 1966 | 31 May 1969 | 2 years, 181 days | [4][2] | |
| 4 | Major General Jackson Kimeu Mulinge (1924–2014) |
1 June 1969 | 22 November 1978 | 9 years, 144 days | [5][6] [2] | |
| 5 | Major General Joseph Kathuka Nzioka |
1 December 1978 | 12 December 1979 | 1 year, 11 days | [2] | |
| 6 | Major General John Malan Sawe |
13 December 1979 | 2 January 1981 | 1 year, 20 days | [2][7] | |
| 7 | Major General Mohamud Haji Barrow Mohammed |
3 January 1981 | 14 December 1981 | 345 days | [2][7] | |
| 8 | Lieutenant General John Malan Sawe |
15 December 1981 | 27 February 1986 | 4 years, 74 days | [2] | |
| 9 | Lieutenant General James Lelasian Lengees |
28 February 1986 | 30 November 1993 | 7 years, 275 days | [2][8] | |
| 10 | Lieutenant General Daudi Rerimoi Chepkonga Tonje |
1 December 1993 | 22 June 1994 | 203 days | [2][9] | |
| 11 | Lieutenant General Augustine K. Cheruiyot |
28 June 1994 | 7 June 1998 | 3 years, 344 days | [2] | |
| 12 | Lieutenant General Adan Abdullahi |
9 June 1998 | 30 November 2000 | 2 years, 174 days | [2] | |
| 13 | Lieutenant General Lazarus Kipkurui Sumbeiywo |
1 December 2000 | 28 February 2003 | 2 years, 89 days | [2] | |
| 14 | Lieutenant General Jeremiah Mutinda Kianga EGH, CBS, ndc (K), cgsc (USA) |
1 March 2003 | 10 August 2005 | 2 years, 162 days | [2] | |
| 15 | Lieutenant General Augostino Stephen Karanu Njoroge MGH, CBS, ndc (K), psc |
10 August 2005 | 5 December 2008 | 3 years, 117 days | [2] | |
| 16 | Lieutenant General Jackson Kiprono Tuwei |
5 December 2008 | 30 November 2010 | 1 year, 360 days | [2][10] | |
| 17 | .jpg) |
Lieutenant General Njuki Mwaniki MGH, CBS, OGW, ndc (K), psc |
30 November 2010 | 13 July 2011 | 225 days | [10][11] |
| 18 | Lieutenant General Joseph Kiptoo Kasaon MGH, CBS, DCO, ndc (K), psc, cgsc (USA) (born 1958) |
13 July 2011 | 17 April 2015 | 3 years, 278 days | [2][11] | |
| 19 | Lieutenant General Leonard Muriuki Ngondi MGH, CBS, OGW, ndc (K), psc (born 1959) |
17 April 2015 | 22 September 2016 | 1 year, 158 days | [2] | |
| 20 | _(cropped).jpg) |
Lieutenant General Robert Kariuki Kibochi EGH, CBS, ndc (K), psc (born 1959) |
22 September 2016 | 13 July 2018 | 1 year, 294 days | [2][12] |
| 21 |  |
Lieutenant General Walter Koipaton Raria MGH, CBS, OGW, ndc (K), psc |
13 July 2018 | 20 July 2022 | 4 years, 7 days | [13] |
| 22 |  |
Lieutenant General Peter Mbogo Njiru MGH, CBS rcds (UK) psc (K) |
20 July 2022 | 8 March 2024 | 1 year, 232 days | [14] |
| 23 |  |
Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Chemwaina Tarus CBS ndc (K) cgsc (USA) psc (K) |
9 March 2024 | Incumbent | 2 years, 9 days | [15] |