Nairobi, May 3 -- President William Ruto set two precedents on Thursday in his Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) appointments -the first General who has never served as a service commander and the first woman service commander.

This is after the President, on the recommendation of the Defence Council, promoted Vice Chief of Defence Forces (VCDF) Lt-Gen Charles Muriu Kahariri to General and named him Kenya's 11th Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

Gen Kahariri replaces Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla, who died on April 18 alongside nine other officers and soldiers, in a helicopter crash at Sindar area in Elgeyo Marakwet.

Gen Kahariri had risen to the rank of Lt-Gen on March 8 - 55 days ago - when he was named the VCDF, succeeding Lt-Gen Jonah Mwangi, wh...