Kenya appoints first female air force commander

May 04, 2024

The appointment follows the death of the country’s military chief and other officers in a helicopter crash last month @ X/WilliamsRuto

Kenya’s President William Ruto named Major General Fatuma Ahmed as commander of the air force on Thursday, making her the first woman to lead a military branch in the African nation.

The announcement follows a helicopter crash last month which claimed the lives of the chief of defense forces, General Francis Ogolla, and nine other officers. The new appointees also include General Charles Muriu Kahariri, who now leads the military.

“The appointment of Major General Fatuma Gaiti goes down in history as the first to have ever been made, as she becomes the first woman to be at the helm of any service in the Armed Forces,” a press release by Kenya’s ministry of gender, culture, the arts and heritage said

“This is a big win for Kenyan women and a major motivation for young women and girls aiming for similar positions,” the ministry added.