From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Robert from Nairobi writes: “Fr Beste, what is your opinion, do you think President Uhuru can allow Chief of Defence Forces Julius Karangi be committed to civil jail after reportedly ignoring a court order directing release of 27 former soldiers on bond?

I am asking this because Karangi was due to retire after serving a one-year extension to his contract given by then President Mwai Kibaki so that the transition in the military would not coincide with the General Election. President Uhuru Kenyatta also chose to keep him for 12 more months – perhaps to buy time as he assessed who among the ranking generals to promote.

After buying time elapsed, President Kenyatta quietly extended the contract by a year, due to end next year. My worry Fr Beste is who will succeed Karangi when he retires next year? Who is legible to succeed him? Could it be another Karangi in making? Thank you”.

Thank you for seeking my opinion Robert. With impunity in Kenya, I don’t see President Uhuru allowing Karangi jailed. Remember Robert, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) is the highest-ranking military officer in the Kenya Defence forces and the principal military adviser to the President of the Republic of Kenya and the National Security Council.

As such, Uhuru like any other president must retain chief of defence forces, not only because he comes from his ethnic community, but also because he close to him, and indeed a friend. In Kenya you are forced to go tribal. I am sure even if Raila were to be the president he would be forced to assign this duty to the man from his ethnic community and close ally.

The rank of CDF is very important because it outranks all respective heads of each service branch and has operational command authority over the service branches. He leads the meetings and coordinates the efforts of the Service Commander, comprising the CDF, the Commander of the Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force, Kenya Nevy and the Commandant of Military Intelligence.

That is explains why President Kibaki forced to extend Kianga’s term for two-and-a-half years despite the fact that the terms of service for the CGS provide for only four years. Karangi heads the board that sit to appoint, promote, and post senior officers from the rank of major to lieutenant-general.

Your second question as to who can succeed Karangi is a bit tricky. Those who could succeed Karangi include Lt-Gen Samson Mwathethe, the Army Commander, Lt-Gen Joseph Kasaon and Lt-Gen Jackson Waweru who heads the National Defence College, Kenya Air Force Commander, Maj-Gen Joff Otieno and Kenya Navy Commander Maj-Gen Ngewa Mukala. They cannot succeed Karangi because they are two ranks below the top position to succeed him.

Succeeding Karangi can only be possible if President Uhuru can do reshuffle in the military as soon as possible. Uhuru is probably following the footsteps of his predecessors, Mr Kibaki and Mr Daniel arap Moi, who did not always make changes when time was due.

The appointment of key military officers is an elaborate process which begins from the lower ranks all the way to the National Defence Council, which advises the President on the top appointments. The National Defence Council is normally chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Ms Raychelle Omamo.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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