Even with little indication that Chief of Kenya Defense Forces (CDF) General Samson Mwathethe would leave military after the expiry of his term last week, city lawyer Donald Kipkorir has questioned his competence, citing several areas where he believes KDF failed.
Mwathethe assumed office after the retirement of General Julius Karangi in 2015.
According to Tonje Rules, named in tribute to General Daudi Tonje, the CDF quits after attaining 64 years or having served four years at the helm, whichever comes first.
In a tweet, Kipkorir revisited KDF massive losses in Boni Forest, inability to contain Al-Shabaab militants, citing a huge budget that is dedicated to the operations. He argues that the military failed to inspire throughout Mwathethe's term.
"Gen. Samson Mwathethe term as CGS ( Chief Of KDF) came to an end in whimper like a fart in the night! He never left any legacy. No real success in battlefields. KDF was outsmarted in Somalia & in Boni Forest, Lamu. KDF gobbles so much money with nothing to show! What a Waste," the lawyer argued.
In 2016, KDF suffered perhaps the highest number of casualties in a battlefield, following the death of over 200 soldiers in El Adde, Somalia. To date, General Samson Mwathethe is yet to give a report on what transpired.
“The General does not want the report to come out because it will expose the incompetence of his commanders,” Major (Rtd) John Ondieki was quoted by Daily Nation.
A year later, in January 2017, at least 60 troops were killed in yet another attack on KDF in the Somalia town of Kolbiyow in an Al-Shabaab attack. Once again, the terrorists’ tactics were similar — a vehicle full of explosives followed by fighters.
Also, a couple of weeks ago, two Cuban doctors based in Mandera, were kidnapped by suspected Al-Shabaab militants. Even after deployment of deadly Rangers Strike Regiment, no progress has been reported so far.
General Mwathethe will be replaced by the most senior Army man, with Lt General Robert Kibochi, his deputy, being at pole position.
Others also suitable to take over are Army Commander Lt General Walter Raria and Lt General Leonard Ngondi of AU-UN Humid in Darfur.