Why Kibaki picked Karangi

By Cyrus Ombati

The Armed Forces turned a new leaf with President Kibaki’s appointment of General Julius Karangi as its first-ever Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF).

General Karangi takes over from long-serving military man General Jeremiah Kianga who will retire in August 21, 2011.

But to make the decision at a time when he is beset with accusations he has stuffed the top posts of security agencies, contrary to the spirit and letter of Constitution, largely with members of one ethnic community, the President must have weighed various options.

One of the factors he must have considered is that General Julius Karangi, who hails from his own Nyeri backyard, was technically the man poised to take the job as Vice-Chief of General Staff (VCGS); a title now renamed Vice-Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF).

President Kibaki congratulates the incoming Chief of Defence Forces Gen J W Karangi at State House, Nairobi, Wednesday. [PHOTO: PPS]

Secondly, the fact that he was a Kenya Air Force man must have worked for him because the previous three heads of the military were from the Navy and the Army.

The Air Force had never produced one despite a silent agreement that the three units hold the post on rotation.

The President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces must also have set out not to upset military tradition by making sure the job went to the person who was ahead of the queue.

Deflect criticism

But seemingly to deflect criticism he had lined up his men outside the big office, the man who was seen to be favourite for the top post alongside Karangi, Lt-Gen Njuki Mwaniki, was downgraded from the high-ranking command of Kenya Army and transferred to National Defence Forces College, as commandant – usually the destination of officers being diplomatically pushed off the succession line.

To further reinforce the perception the security agencies bear the face of Kenya, despite the top-most posts going to members of his community, the President gave Mwaniki’s previous post to Lt-General John Kasaon, who curiously held the former Army Commander’s prior position.

There is also the argument the President stuck to the order of seniority, in terms of years served in the military.

While making the appointments, the President also seemed to have juggled between regional balance and promotion for some officers who had stayed in certain positions for long. Military sources told The Standard the contractual extension given to former CGS Joseph Kibwana and Kianga by Kibaki forced some deserving top officers to leave the Force before they reached their peaks because of stagnation in one rank.

Karangi, who takes up from a general from Eastern Province, now joins the coveted list of heads of security agencies.

They include Maj-Gen Michael Gichangi at National Security Intelligence Service, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere, Administration Police Commandant, Kinuthia Mbugua, Criminal Investigations Department Director, Ndegwa Muhoro, Director of National Police Operations, Julius Ndegwa, General Service Unit Commandant, William Saiya, Prison Commandant Isaac Osugo, and Japheth Mwania, who heads the National Youth Service.

Karangi joins the powerful National Security Council, which Kibaki chairs. Its members are Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Internal Security Minister, George Saitoti, and his PS Francis Kimemia, Defence Minister Yusuf Haji, PS Foreign Affairs – currently held by Patrick Wamoto in an acting capacity.

Thuita Mwangi was the PS until he stepped aside to pave way for corruption investigations. Gichangi and Iteere are also members of the National Security Council.

It was also the first time that a Kenyan from Central Province took up the top military post. It was a magnificent and tremendous moment for Lieutenant-Gen Julius Karangi as he went a rank up, to be Kenya’s only general. He also jumped one rung up the ladder – where he was Vice-GGS – to succeed General Kianga. His predecessor retires officially on August 31, but in keeping with tradition of retired President Moi for exiting top military commanders, Kibaki sent Kianga to Kenya Railways where he will chair the board. He will, however, be in office until the end of next month, working with Karangi, on handover.

Karangi also had one more reason to smile – had he remained in his older position he would have had to retire in November in line with what is popularly known as ‘Tonje Rules’, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 58.

Though retired General Mohamud Mohammed ascended to CGS office from Air Force, he was an army officer until he was moved to the flying wing, where he donned the airmen’s uniform, after helping crash the 1982 abortive coup against the Moi regime.

Just like Mohammed was recruited as an infantry officer, so was Karangi employed as a KAF cadet officer in 1973. Kianga has had 40 years of service in the military. Kibaki extended his term for another two-and-a-half years despite the fact terms of service for CGS stipulates that the holder serves for only four years.

Several officers of the rank of colonel and major have often complained of being retired because of failure of the top decision-making organs of the military – Board One – to meet.

Other changes

In the latest changes Kibaki also appointed immediate former Navy Commander Simon Mwathethe, from the Coast, to VCGS after promotion to rank of Lt- General. Mwaniki becomes the shortest serving Army Commander in recent times.

Major-General Maurice Oyugi was retained as Deputy Army Commander, while Major-General Joff Otieno was made Kenya Air Force Commander. Otieno, who has Masters degree in Electrical Engineering, was formerly the commandant, Defence Staff College, a position now taken by Maj-Gen J N Waweru. Otieno’s deputy at KAF is a Brigadier Njunge.

Immediate former KAF Commander Maj-Gen Harold Tangai was appointed Senior Directing Staff – Air, National Defence College. Major-General Anthony Rop, the third senior-most officer remains at NDC.

Brigadier Ngewa Mukala, formerly the deputy commander of Kenya Navy was promoted to the rank of Maj-Gen, and becomes the Navy Commander. Brig P W Kameru was promoted to Maj-Gen and confirmed as Director of Military Intelligence.

The changes come as all State institutions strive to attain ethnic diversity and gender equity as the Constitution requires.

Last week Commission for Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) wrote to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga asking them to respect the values and principles of Public Service that apply to all State organs, including the military, in appointments.

"The appointments must be fair, competitive and a representation of ethnic diversity and equal opportunities for men and women," read the letter, in part.

National Cohesion and Integrity Commission had earlier raised questions about ethnic composition in various Government departments, including the military.

The next top security appointment the country will be waiting to see how the President will fill that of Inspector General of Police.