Kenya makes history with appointment of first female air force head

The appointments follow the demise of the military chief and others in a helicopter crash in April.

Major-General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed first made history when she was promoted as the first woman Brigadier. In 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta promoted her to the position of Major-General in the East African Country.

She replaces Major-General John Mugaravai Omenda who has also been promoted to the position of Lieutenant General and appointed Vice-Chief of Defence Forces.

Major-General Ahmed, 58 years old began her military work at the age of 19 under the Women Service Corps, a woman-only outfit operating separately from the other arms of the defence forces.

She was recruited by ‘accident’ after trying an ongoing recruitment exercise, the Nation reports.

In 1983, she was commissioned to the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1985, becoming one of the many women from the Women Service Corps who were integrated into the Kenyan Army, Airforce and Navy.

President William Ruto appointed her the Senior Directing Staff Air in 2023.

Major-General Ahmed is a graduate of the National Defence College and the Defence Staff College where she graduated in 2000. 

Major-General Ahmed is a graduate of the National Defence College and the Defence Staff College where she graduated in 2000. 

The appointments were announced in a statement shared on the social media platforms of the Kenya Defence Forces.

Meanwhile, President Ruto encouraged the new appointees to uphold loyalty to the service.