The appointment of Major General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed as the Kenya Air Force commander by President William Ruto marks a significant milestone for women in the Kenyan military. History is made as she becomes the first woman to hold this esteemed position.

Major General Fatuma Ahmed first gained prominence in August 2015 when she was promoted to the rank of brigadier by former president Uhuru Kenyatta.

Her achievement was further highlighted this year with her promotion to the coveted rank of major-general. With 32 years of service under her belt, she enlisted in 1983 and served diligently under the Women’s Service Corps.

Major General Ahmed is a distinguished graduate of the National Defence College, a Military Center of Excellence affiliated with the University of Nairobi’s Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies.

Additionally, she is an alumnus of the Defence Staff College, where she completed her studies in July 2000. Furthermore, she holds a Diploma in Management from Strathmore University College.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1985, she began her career with the Kenya Air Force. Her remarkable journey culminated in her promotion to the rank of Major General in 2021, solidifying her extraordinary career and making her the first woman to reach this rank in the Kenyan military.

In 2023, she was appointed as the Senior Directing Staff Air by President William Ruto. President Ruto, who serves as the commander-in-chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, made a series of promotions in the military. Among these promotions, Let. General Charles Kahariri was elevated to General and appointed as the Chief of Defence Forces following the untimely demise of the late General Francis Ogolla.

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