Kenyan president makes military changes

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday made changes in the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) in order to enhance service delivery as the country's soldiers intensify fight against Somalia militants.

Kenyatta promoted Lieutenant-General Samson J. Mwathethe to General and appointed him Chief of Defense Forces-Designate, replacing General Dr Julius Waweru Karangi who retires.

"General Karangi will commence the handover process starting next week pending retirement as Chief of Defense Forces after more than four decades of distinguished service to our country, the region and humankind," Kenyatta said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

He said the military's top policy organ the National Defense Council met on Friday and agreed on the succession of another set of general staff officer cadre to lead KDF.

"I take this opportunity to thank General Karangi for his dedicated service to Kenya that was marked by diligence, great commitment, humility and patriotism," he said.

"General Karangi leaves our Defense Forces in a much better place both professionally and operationally," Kenyatta added.

On the advice of the National Defense Council, Kenyatta appointed Lieutenant-General Joseph K. Kasaon as the Vice Chief of Defense Forces-Designate.

"I have also promoted Major-General Leonard M. Ngondi to Lieutenant-General and appointed him Kenya Army Commander- Designate," he said.

Analysts say the changes will see Kenya revise its military attack plan in the operation in Somalia, vowing to expand gradually to the rest of the Horn of African nation, soon after achieving the mission to take over several towns under AMISOM.

The troops battling Al-Shabaab militia have also been put on high alert in the wake of increased terror attacks in northeast Kenya to deal with more aggressive attacks against their positions. Endi