The new Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces (CDF) General Robert Kibochi was on Monday sworn in at State House, Nairobi.
General Kibochi takes over from General Samson Mwathethe who retired after serving as CDF for five years.
The new KDF boss was accompanied to State House by his wife Tabitha Kariuki at the ceremony witnessed by the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
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General Kibochi was enlisted into the Kenya Defence Forces on May 18, 1979, and underwent Officer Cadets Training until March 30, 1980, and commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to Signals Battalion.
He has held various command and staff appointments including his immediate former appointment as Commander of the Kenya Army, Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Operations, Plans, Doctrine and Training at Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Chief of Strategic Plans and Policy, Director International Peace Support Training Centre, Col. Operations Requirements (CIS) and Commander Corps of Signals.
Other appointments held include: Chief of Staff at the Eastern Africa Standby Force, SO1 Records at Headquarter Kenya Army (HQ KA), SO1 Comms HQ KA, SO1 Mobilization DHQ, SO1 Comms CIS DHQ and SOII Operations and Training at the HQ of the Corps of Signals.
Lt. Gen. Kibochi has earned Master’s Degree of Arts in International Studies, Master’s Degree in Computer Based Information Systems, Bachelors of Technology in Communication and Electronics Engineering, and is currently pursuing a PhD degree in Peace and Conflict Management.
His other professional training include: National Security Studies at the National Defence College (Kenya), Army Command and Staff Course (UK), Overseas Telecoms Engineering Course (UK), Signal Officers Degree Telecommunications Engineering Course (India), Sub-Unit Commanders Course, Platoon Commanders Course, Regimental Signal Officers Course among other training courses.
He served with the United Nations as Commander of Kenyan Contingent in the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) from 2000 – 2001; while his decorations include Moran of the Order of the Golden Heart (MGH) and Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS), among others.
