Friday, June 27, 2025 - President William Ruto has made sweeping changes in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), with the promotion of Major General David Kipkemboi Keter to Lieutenant General and his appointment as Commander of the Kenya Army drawing significant attention.
Keter, a former aide-de-camp to the late Chief of Defence
Forces (CDF) General, Francis Ogolla, is also tipped as the next CDF.
Notably, Keter was not aboard the ill-fated military chopper
that crashed in Elgeyo Marakwet in April, killing General Ogolla and several
other officers.
His absence from the tragic mission has sparked public
curiosity, especially with the timing of his rapid rise.
The promotion comes amid heightened political tension and
growing speculation surrounding General Ogolla’s death.
While the Government maintains the crash was an accident,
opposition leaders - most vocally Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka - have
alleged foul play, even calling it an assassination.
The move is also being interpreted through a political lens.
With Ruto under pressure from anti-Government protests and
facing a tough re-election path in 2027, the elevation of a Kalenjin officer to
the top ranks of the military is seen by some as a strategic consolidation of
influence within key state institutions.
Ogolla, a Luo, was among the few high-ranking officials from
outside Ruto’s political base.
Analysts suggest the changes may have deeper political implications as Kenya edges closer to a contentious electoral season.
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