NAIROBI, Kenya, May 8 – General Samson Mwathethe received a 17-gun salute as he officially handed over the command of the military to his successor the Chief of Defence Forces Designate Gen Robert Kibochi who is set to be sworn in on Monday.
The outgoing the new Chief of Defence Forces arrived at the Department of Defence Headquarters on Friday morning where he handed over functions to Gen Kibochi. Earlier on, Gen Mwathethe bid farewell the Kenya Army personal.
He was also accorded guards of honour at Kenya Navy and Kenya Airforce headquarters where he visited military personnel earlier in the week.
Gen Mwathethe is leaving the force after 42 years of service.
Gen Mwathethe honoured his wife for her role during 40 year tenure in the military which saw him rise from the rank of the Kenya Navy Seaman to head the country’s defence forces.
General Mwathethe joked that his retirement from the military will allow him to spend more time with his wife Amina.
“The way I see it, this retirement is for you too,” he said. “When I spent most of my time pondering military tactics, you steered the family, your presence and invaluable support made every day for me and our children better. Thank you for enduring the trials of being married to a military husband. I know there were days you felt they were overworking me and probably underpaying me.”
He said he is confident that as he exits the Force he leaves behind ‘warriors who are well trained and urged them to strive to create a positive impact’.
“Terrorists cannot continue to instill fear to civilians. We crossed in Somalia with aim to capture Al Shabaab. We fought on land, water and air; to achieve our mandate we must continue to enhance our general knowledge to combat the enemy. The KDF has embraced the use of modern technology to fight the enemy,” the outgoing military chief said.
General Mwathethe’s term expired on April 17 after serving as the country’s top soldier since March 2015 when he took over from General Julius Karangi.
“Military must continue securing our borders. The Kenya Defence Forces must remain steadfast and loyal to the government of the day,” he urged in his speech on Friday.
Gen Kibochi, his successor, served as the vice CDF during Mwathethe’s tenure.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma confirmed General Kibochi will be sworn-in on Monday at an event to be witnessed by President Uhuru Kenya, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces.
She was speaking at the Department of Defence Headquarters where she witnessed the official handover of command from the outgoing General Samson Mwathethe.
General Mwathethe received a 17 gun salute during the ceremony which began slightly after 10am.
The outgoing military chief had earlier handed over Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) flag to his successor and proceeded signed the Change of Command Certificate.
General Kibochi paid tribute to his predecessor and thanked him for his mentorship.
“I will personally remember your calmness in the face of challenges. Your concern for the welfare of personnel will continue to inspire us… to continue the good work and raise KDF to higher levels.”
“I salute you and wish you good luck and hope to be meeting you in Mtwapa when we come,” General Kibochi added.
The ceremony was also marked by the launch of a KDF book, War for Peace, which details the Force’s efforts to restore peace in neighbouring Somalia as part of the Africa Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom) and protecting Kenya’s borders.
Attorney General Paul Kihara, Foreign Affairs CS Rachel Omamo (previously held the docket), Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, friends and family of Mwathethe and Kibochi were among those who graced the handover ceremony.
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