President William Ruto on Thursday promoted Major General Fatuma Ahmed naming her the Commander of the Kenya Air Force, the first woman to hold the position in Kenya's history.
Before her appointment to the position on May 2, Fatuma served as the Senior Directing Staff Air, a position she attained after her appointment by President Ruto in May 2023.
Major General Fatuma grabbed headlines in August 2015 and later in July 2018. In 2015, former President Uhuru Kenyatta promoted her to Brigadier.
The former Head of State would then elevate her to the position of Major General marking her ascension in the typically male-dominated Kenyan military.
Ahmed first joined the army in 1983 where she served under the Women's Service Corps.
She was commissioned to the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1985 and posted to the Kenya Air Force.
Additionally, Ahmed has served as a Battalion Second in Command (BN 2IC) Staff Officer II Audit Personnel and Records.
She also held the position of a Staff Officer I Personnel and Administration and as Colonel Personnel at the Kenya Air Force Headquarters and Managing Director Defence Forces Medical Insurance Scheme.
Education
Maj Gen Ahmed is a graduate of the National Defence College, a training facility for senior commanders in the Military of Kenya, including the Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Forces.
She is also an alumnus of the Defence Staff College where she graduated in July 2000, in addition, she holds a Diploma in Management from Strathmore University College.
Other Appointments
While making the appointments, President William Ruto also announced the appointment of Charles Muriu Kahariri as the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
President Ruto also promoted Major General John Mugaravai Omenda to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed him the Vice of the Kenyan Defence Forces. Previously, he was the Air Force commander.
At the same time, Major General Thomas Njoroge Ng'ang'a was posted to the National Defence University and appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration and Finance.
