President William Ruto appoints Fatuma Ahmed Air Force Commander

President William Ruto on Thursday promoted Major General Fatuma Ahmed and appointed her as Commander of the Kenya Air Force, the first woman to hold the position in Kenya’s history.

Prior to her appointment to the position on May 2, Fatuma served as Air Senior Management Staff, a position she achieved after her appointment by President Ruto in 2023.

Major General Fatuma first made headlines in August 2015, when she was promoted to brigadier, a position no woman had held in the male-dominated Kenyan military.

Ahmed first joined the military in 1983, where she served in the Women’s Service Corps.

Trade CS, Rebecca Miano congratulates Fatuma Ahmed on being the first female major general in Kenya on July 17, 2019

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Rebeca Miaño

She was promoted to second lieutenant in 1985 and posted to the Kenya Air Force.

Additionally, the Major General has served as Staff Officer II of the Second in Command Battalion (BN 2IC) of Personnel and Records Audit.

She also held the position of Staff Officer I Personnel and Administration and Staff Colonel at the Kenya Air Force Headquarters and Director General of the Defense Forces Health Insurance Scheme.

Education

Major General Ahmed is a graduate of the National Defense College, a training center for senior commanders of the Kenyan military, including the army, navy, air force and special forces.

She is also an alumnus of the Defense Staff College, graduating in July 2000, and holds a Diploma in Management from Strathmore University College.

Other quotes

On Wednesday, Major General Fatuma Ahmed was appointed to lead the Air Force, while Major General Paul Owour Otieno was posted to the Kenya Navy and also appointed commander.

Meanwhile, Brigadier Samuel Kosgei Kipkorir was appointed to replace her as deputy commander of the Kenya Air Force.

Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale with newly appointed KDF officers at the Ministry of Defense on May 2, 2024.

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KDF