Commander, Kenya Army

The commander, Kenya Army is the chief and highest-ranking officer of the Kenya Army The current commander is Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Tarus.

Commander, Kenya Army
Flag of Kenya Army
Incumbent Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Tarus since 9 March 2024
Kenya Army
Reports to	Chief of Defence Forces
Appointer	The president
Formation	12 December 1963
First holder	Ian Freeland
Deputy	Deputy Army Commander

List of officeholders

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Major General Ian Freeland (1912–1979)	12 December 1963	30 April 1964	140 days	[1][2]
2		Brigadier A. J. Hardy	1 May 1964	30 November 1966	2 years, 213 days	[3][2]
3		Brigadier Joseph Musyimi Lele Ndolo	1 December 1966	31 May 1969	2 years, 181 days	[4][2]
4		Major General Jackson Kimeu Mulinge (1924–2014)	1 June 1969	22 November 1978	9 years, 144 days	[5][6] [2]
5		Major General Joseph Kathuka Nzioka	1 December 1978	12 December 1979	1 year, 11 days	[2]
6		Major General John Malan Sawe	13 December 1979	2 January 1981	1 year, 20 days	[2][7]
7		Major General Mohamud Haji Barrow Mohammed	3 January 1981	14 December 1981	345 days	[2][7]
8		Lieutenant General John Malan Sawe	15 December 1981	27 February 1986	4 years, 74 days	[2]
9		Lieutenant General James Lelasian Lengees	28 February 1986	30 November 1993	7 years, 275 days	[2][8]
10		Lieutenant General Daudi Rerimoi Chepkonga Tonje	1 December 1993	22 June 1994	203 days	[2][9]
11		Lieutenant General Augustine K. Cheruiyot	28 June 1994	7 June 1998	3 years, 344 days	[2]
12		Lieutenant General Adan Abdullahi	9 June 1998	30 November 2000	2 years, 174 days	[2]
13		Lieutenant General Lazarus Kipkurui Sumbeiywo	1 December 2000	28 February 2003	2 years, 89 days	[2]
14		Lieutenant General Jeremiah Mutinda Kianga EGH, CBS, ndc (K), cgsc (USA)	1 March 2003	10 August 2005	2 years, 162 days	[2]
15		Lieutenant General Augostino Stephen Karanu Njoroge MGH, CBS, ndc (K), psc	10 August 2005	5 December 2008	3 years, 117 days	[2]
16		Lieutenant General Jackson Kiprono Tuwei	5 December 2008	30 November 2010	1 year, 360 days	[2][10]
17		Lieutenant General Njuki Mwaniki MGH, CBS, OGW, ndc (K), psc	30 November 2010	13 July 2011	225 days	[10][11]
18		Lieutenant General Joseph Kiptoo Kasaon MGH, CBS, DCO, ndc (K), psc, cgsc (USA) (born 1958)	13 July 2011	17 April 2015	3 years, 278 days	[2][11]
19		Lieutenant General Leonard Muriuki Ngondi MGH, CBS, OGW, ndc (K), psc (born 1959)	17 April 2015	22 September 2016	1 year, 158 days	[2]
20		Lieutenant General Robert Kariuki Kibochi EGH, CBS, ndc (K), psc (born 1959)	22 September 2016	13 July 2018	1 year, 294 days	[2][12]
21		Lieutenant General Walter Koipaton Raria MGH, CBS, OGW, ndc (K), psc	13 July 2018	20 July 2022	4 years, 7 days	[13]
22		Lieutenant General Peter Mbogo Njiru MGH, CBS rcds (UK) psc (K)	20 July 2022	8 March 2024	1 year, 232 days	[14]
23		Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Chemwaina Tarus CBS ndc (K) cgsc (USA) psc (K)	9 March 2024	Incumbent	1 year, 142 days	[15]