Kenya's Top Jeshi Structure

[gout]

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After the announcement of the changes at KDF by President Uhuru Kenyatta, there were murmurs from some quarters, with Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina among the first leaders to cry foul.

"Even KDF is tribal? This is a truly a messed up country. The most qualified military man to succeed Gen Mwathathe was Lieutenant General Walter Koipaton Raria! But just because he is Maasai, he is left out and a staff deputy is appointed! Very unfortunate!" the Narok Senator tweeted.

https://allafrica.com/stories/202005040241.html

[RV Pundit]

Generally Kenya Army Commander is most powerful. But due to Tonje rules - they just keep rotating - the head of KDF. Otherwise Kenya Navy in kenya is just a useless thing.

Tonje rules are working but president keep making tribal appointment

[Kadudu]

The military has been tribalised since the days of Arap Moi. Before that the military was a Kamba affair and Moi changed all that to bring in his people. Now after 20 years Kikuyu domination it has turned to be a Mt Kenya affair. Am even surprised Uhuru has a few other ethnic groups at the top of the military.

Generally Kenya Army Commander is most powerful. But due to Tonje rules - they just keep rotating - the head of KDF. Otherwise Kenya Navy in kenya is just a useless thing.

Tonje rules are working but president keep making tribal appointment

[RV Pundit]

Not true.

KDF was Kamba+Kalenjin affair in colonial period. This was because Mzungu ruled they had best military aptitude.

"In 1959, the Kalenjin, Kamba, Samburu, and Northern Frontier pastoral communities supplied approximately 77 percent of the total strength of the Kenyan KAR battalions.'"

Jomo came - and when he found it hard to crack - he created paramilitary GSU and trained APS - with his tribesmen- so they could provide a counter in case of a coup or mutiny.

Tonje fixed appointment - except top generals - where president has a say.

The military has been tribalised since the days of Arap Moi. Before that the military was a Kamba affair and Moi changed all that to bring in his people. Now after 20 years Kikuyu domination it has turned to be a Mt Kenya affair. Am even surprised Uhuru has a few other ethnic groups at the top of the military.

[RV Pundit]

 Immediately after independence, the Kamba and Kalenjin each comprised approximately one-third of the forces, with the remainder mostly samburus and maasai.

[gout]

The two terms and 50+1 maths means you cannot do much to entrench such. Re-election is hanging around your neck.  Ufool had to wait for second term to kick ruto in the gonads by which time he could not do much except fic retiree kibochi. It is a blink and you are a lameduck.

The military has been tribalised since the days of Arap Moi. Before that the military was a Kamba affair and Moi changed all that to bring in his people. Now after 20 years Kikuyu domination it has turned to be a Mt Kenya affair. Am even surprised Uhuru has a few other ethnic groups at the top of the military.

Generally Kenya Army Commander is most powerful. But due to Tonje rules - they just keep rotating - the head of KDF. Otherwise Kenya Navy in kenya is just a useless thing.

Tonje rules are working but president keep making tribal appointment

[Kadudu]

The Kamba were overrepresented in the armed forces as they were viewd loyal to their then masters. It is mainly Kamba soldiers who fought for the British in WW II in then Burma. Till late 1970's, the top armed forces officers were mainly Kamba. Could be that the Kalejin were were represented, but it seems at a lower level in rank.

Immediately after independence, the Kamba and Kalenjin each comprised approximately one-third of the forces, with the remainder mostly samburus and maasai.

[Njuri Ncheke]

I don't see any problem with Jeshi structure. Its clear GEMA was neglected by mkoloni because they were rebellious to their rule.
Kalenjins,kambas, luhya who were cooks, luggage carriers and drivers respectively were favoured simply because they collaborated and snitched on pro independence nationalists GEMA.
Our forefathers fought in Mau Mau against these traitor kabilas to achieve independence and that MUST be reflected in KDF today. Gatheca thats some good stuff and rare from him

[Kadudu]

Very illogical. Was Mau Mau the only armed rebellion against the British in Kenya? Also was fighting for independence only reduced to armed struggle? Mind you, Jomo Kenyatta never supported armed struggle against the British. In this case, how did other African countries like Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania etc achieve independence even before Kenya without any record of armed struggle?

The British took land from the Kikuyu. So what reason did a Kisii or a Pokot have to take to arms against the British if they did not occupy their land?

I don't see any problem with Jeshi structure. Its clear GEMA was neglected by mkoloni because they were rebellious to their rule.
Kalenjins,kambas, luhya who were cooks, luggage carriers and drivers respectively were favoured simply because they collaborated and snitched on pro independence nationalists GEMA.
Our forefathers fought in Mau Mau against these traitor kabilas to achieve independence and that MUST be reflected in KDF today. Gatheca thats some good stuff and rare from him

[RV Pundit]

Kalenjin and Kambas had equal representation. But officer levels it was mostly Kambas and Brits. After independence Kenyatta promoted kikuyus to be officers.  Before that Nubians dominated the army.

The Kamba were overrepresented in the armed forces as they were viewd loyal to their then masters. It is mainly Kamba soldiers who fought for the British in WW II in then Burma. Till late 1970's, the top armed forces officers were mainly Kamba. Could be that the Kalejin were were represented, but it seems at a lower level in rank.

[RV Pundit]

This predates Mau. Mau was very short war - it ended in 4yrs - with humiliating defeat of MauMau in 1956.
Mzungu gave everyone what they thought they were capable.
The King's African Rifles (KAR) had the maritial tribes -  Nandi, Kipsigis and Kamba
GEMA - were recruited as farm hands to till Mzungu farm.
Luos - were taken to factories and back breaking work like sisal farming/harvesting.
Luhyas - were taken as maids and cooks.

I don't see any problem with Jeshi structure. Its clear GEMA was neglected by mkoloni because they were rebellious to their rule.
Kalenjins,kambas, luhya who were cooks, luggage carriers and drivers respectively were favoured simply because they collaborated and snitched on pro independence nationalists GEMA.
Our forefathers fought in Mau Mau against these traitor kabilas to achieve independence and that MUST be reflected in KDF today. Gatheca thats some good stuff and rare from him

[RV Pundit]

The British after facing Nandis for 15yrs - the start of and during WW1, an estimated 10% of the adult male population of the Nandi was conscripted into the King's African Rifles (KAR).

[yulemsee]

Next will be either Omondi or Omenda. Uhuru preparing for a Raila presidency

[Omollo]

We've been independent for 60 years roughly. Yet here we are talking of how the mzungu fixed tribes.

Yes, so he did. The average age of KR (most of them returnees from the great war) can be placed at 35 to 40. So if there's one who was younger he's now staring at 100 years. Most are dead.

Whatever mistakes the beberu made could've been rectified in the last 60 years. Instead you see a clear effort to mess it up.

One thing I'd give Moi anytime was his REFUSAL to meddle with the military. He would hit very hard at any politicians attempting to corrupt intake officers. It became known that the fastest way to be retired from politics was to meddle with the military. It didnt matter who. When Karume wrote a note to a recruiter he was interrogated for 36 hours until he pleaded that without his heart medicine ntakufa. But Moi made sure the event was widely known to keep others behaved.

Kenyatta 1 also learned to steer clear of the military.

In come Kibaki and the army became another arm of government. What Karangi did in 2013 at Bomas was tantamount to staging a coup de etat

Karangi forced through amendments practically removing civilian leadership of the military. He basically prepared for a military coup. The changes remain intact unless whoever becomes president uses the first week of confusion to remove them.

There's no excuse for lack of reforms in the military. Someone has to end their ringfenced corruption.