Former Defence Forces chief Jeremiah Kianga (left) and his successor Julius Karangi aboard a Land Rover as it was being towed out of DoD by senior officers during the hand-over ceremony on August 12, 2011. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL
By DAVE OPIYO dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Friday, August 12 2011 at 22:30
Posted Friday, August 12 2011 at 22:30
Forty years of service ended on Friday for Gen (rtd) Jeremiah Kianga as he officially transferred the command of the military to Gen Julius Karangi. (Read: Karangi is military chief in shake-up of top brass)
In an elaborate yet simple ceremony that lasted about five hours at the Department of Defence headquarters in Nairobi, Gen Kianga bid farewell to the military in style.
He is set to take a new role as Kenya Railways chairman.
Aboard a sparkling clean ceremonial Land Rover, and accompanied by Gen Karangi, he was pulled out of the Defence headquarters using ropes by army men, as music from the military band blared.
This is usually reserved for those above the rank of brigadier.
As the procession snaked its way out of the headquarters, Gen Kianga saluted at intervals to acknowledge all the officers who had lined up from the mess hall to the main Defence headquarters gate. It was at the mess that he had his last lunch with his senior officers.
At the main gate, Gen Karangi briefly hugged his predecessor, then they exchanged niceties before Gen Kianga was ushered into a waiting white Toyota Land Cruiser with civilian registration numbers.
His vehicle, together with that of the incoming Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), had been joined by a ribbon, which was cut by the force of the vehicles pulling apart.
This perhaps was to signify the parting.
The retired general’s car sped off towards the Kilimani area, while that of Gen Karangi was driven into the Defence headquarters compound — signifying a change of guard in the military’s top leadership.
Gen Kianga said earlier on: “The day has finally reached and I thank God for it. It has been coming for the last 40 years…I am glad I have arrived at this point of my life alive and well.”
He continued: “Despite the twists and turns, trials and tribulations of a soldier like me, I have arrived this far because of God’s blessings.”
He revealed that he never wanted to be a soldier. “I wanted to be a lawyer but fate did not allow me.”
The outgoing CDF had one parting message for the officers: “Soldiers in Kenya must never come second…its like accepting defeat…it should never happen.”
Defence minister Yusuf Haji and PS Nancy Kirui described him as “humble but firm”.
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