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On Thursday morning, President William Ruto appointed Charles Muriu Kahariri as the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) taking over from the late Francis Ogolla who perished in a chopper crash in mid-April.
The appointment, which was announced by the Kenya Defence Forces, was coupled with Kahariri’s promotion to the position of General.
“His Excellency Hon Dr William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H, President of the Republic of Kenya, and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, pursuant to section 9 (2) (a) of the Kenya Defence Forces Act, has today promoted Lieutenant General Charles Muriu Kahariri to the rank of General and appointed him the Chief of the Defence Forces,” read the statement in part.
So who is Muriu Kahariri?
Since joining KDF in 1987, Kahariri, who was elevated to CDF after serving as the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces of KDF for slightly over a month since his appointment on March 9, 2024, has amassed an experience of 37 years.
He rose from the Kenya Navy wing of the Defence Forces where he climbed through the ranks since being confirmed as a second lieutenant in 1988.
After undergoing training in the UK shortly after, Kahariri held several leadership positions within the Navy including as the commanding officer of Kenya Navy Ships Mamba, Madaraka, and Umoja.
He has also served as the commanding officer at Kenya Navy Manda Base as well as a Squadron Commander, Commander of the Kenya Navy Fleet, and Deputy Commander of the Kenya Navy.
Later, he ventured out of the Navy wing after scoring a position as the senior directing staff at the National Defence College from where he ascended to serve as the deputy commandant of the military.
He has also served as the commandant of the military.
“(His) notable operational assignments include serving as the maritime component commander for “Operation Linda Nchi” and as the task force commander for “Operation Sledge Hammer” during the capture of Kismaiyu,” reads a description of Kahariri on the KDF website.
“Additionally, he has represented Kenya as the national focal person for the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and the Djibouti Code of Conduct. He also served on the National Task Forces for the Delimitation of Kenya’s Exclusive Economic Zones and Delimitation of Kenya’s Extended Continental Shelf.”
Academic Qualifications
Kahariri, a father of three, is a decorated General having pursued over half a dozen causes both locally and internationally. He graduated with a Diploma in Strategic and Security Studies from the United States Naval War Collage.
Other certificates he holds include International Midshipman Course (UK), Long Navigation Course (India), Management and Strategic Planning Course, Naval Command Course (USA), Joint Campaign Planning, Flag Level Combined Maritime Component Command Course (Italy), Senior Strategic Leadership Course (UK) and Executive Development Course (University of N/Carolina, USA).
He has been awarded with the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS).
