Commander of the Air Force (Kenya)
| Commander of Kenya Air Force | |
|---|---|
 Kenya Air Force | |
| Type | Commanding general |
| Reports to | Chief of Defence Forces |
| Formation | 1964 |
| First holder | Group Captain Ian Stockwell |
The Commanders of the Air Force is the head of the Kenya Air Force. The post was created in 1964 with Group Captain Ian Stockwell of the Royal Air Force as the first commander. The current Commanders of the Air Force is Maj. Gen. John Mugaravai Omenda, who was appointed on 23 July 2021.[1]
List of Commanders of the Air Force[edit]
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 | Group captain Ian S Stockwell, CBE,DFC,AFC |
1 June 1964 | 22 Feb 1967 | 2 years, 266 days | [2] | |
| 2 | Group captain Fred Rothwell, DFC,TD |
23 Feb 1967 | 09 Aug 1971 | 4 years, 167 days | [2] | |
| 3 | Group captain David John Edwards, CBE,AFC |
10 Aug 1971 | 16 Apr 1973 | 1 year, 249 days | [2] | |
| 4 | 
|
Colonel Dedan Njuguna Gichuru, EBS, 'awc' (USA) |
17 Apr 1973 | 26 Jun 1980 | 7 years, 70 days | [2][3] |
| 5 | Major general Patrick Mwagiru Kariuki, 'psc' (UK) |
27 Jun 1980 | 11 Aug 1982 | 2 years, 45 days | [2] | |
| 6 | Lieutenant general Mohamed Haji Barrow Mohamud, EGH,CBS,UM,DCO |
12 Aug 1982 | 13 Mar 1986 | 3 years, 213 days | [2] | |
| 7 | Major general Dedan Njuguna Gichuru, CBS,EBS 'awc' (USA) |
14 Feb 1986 | 9 May 1989 | 3 years, 84 days | [2] | |
| 8 | Major general Duncan Kireri Wachira, CBS,'awc' (USA), 'acsc'(USA) |
10 May 1989 | 28 June 1994 | 5 years, 49 days | [2] | |
| 9 | 
|
Major general Nick Letoluo Leshan, MGH,CBS,DCO 'awc' (USA), 'acsc'(USA) |
29 June 1994 | 30 Nov 2000 | 6 years, 154 days | [2] |
| 10 | Major general Simon Kiplimo Muttai, MGH,CBS,'awc' (USA), 'psc'(UK) |
01 Dec 2000 | 26 Nov 2003 | 2 years, 360 days | [2] | |
| 11 | 
|
Major general Julius Waweru Karangi, MGH,CBS,'ndc' (K), 'psc'(K) |
27 Nov 2003 | 09 Aug 2005 | 1 year, 255 days | [2] |
| 12 | 
|
Major general Harold M. Tangai, MGH,EBS,DCO 'ndc' (K), 'psc'(K) |
10 Aug 2005 | 12 Jul 2011 | 5 years, 336 days | [2] |
| 13 | 
|
Major general Joff Otieno, MGH,EBS,DCO,OGW 'awc' (USA), 'psc'(K) |
13 Jul 2011 | 30 Jul 2014 | 3 years, 17 days | [2] |
| 14 | 
|
Major general Samuel Nganga Thuita, MGH,EBS,OGW 'ndc' (K), 'psc'(K) |
31 July 2014 | 13 July 2018 | 3 years, 347 days | [2] |
| 15 | 
|
Major general Francis Omondi Ogolla, MGH,EBS,HSC 'ndc' (K) 'psc' (FRA) |
14 July 2018 | 22 July 2021 | 3 years, 8 days | [2][4] |
| 16 | 
|
Major general John Mugaravai Omenda, EBS,SS,OGW 'rcds' (UK) 'psc' (K) |
23 July 2021 | Incumbent | 2 years, 271 days | [1][2][5] |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Ogolla appointed KDF vice chief in new postings". The Star. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "History of Commanders of the Kenya Air Force". Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ^ "17 April". Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ Ochieng, Angeline; Oudia, Rushdie (18 December 2023). "How General Francis Ogolla is Demystifying Chief of Defence Forces Position". Nation Africa. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ "Major General John Mugaravai Omenda EBS SS OGW 'rcds' (UK) 'psc' (K) Commander Kenya Air Force". Kenya Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 28 December 2023.