Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed is a major general and commander of the Kenya Air Force. She was originally a member of the women-only Kenyan Women Service Corps, transferring to the air force when the unit was absorbed into the three armed services in 1999. Ahmed has a degree from the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies and has served mainly in human resources roles. She was Kenya's first female brigadier.
Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance |  Kenya |
| Branch |  Kenya Air Force |
| Years of service | 1985—present |
| Rank | Major general |
Career
editFatuma Gaiti Ahmed born in 1965 joined the Kenyan Army "by accident".[1] Upon completing secondary school in 1983 she had to return to her home town in order to claim an identification card.[2][3] The military happened to be carrying out a recruitment campaign at a stadium near to the offices of the ID services and she made enquiries about joining.[3] She entered the Kenya Military Academy as an officer cadet in 1984 and upon graduating was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Kenyan Women Service Corps.[3][2] From 1985 she served alongside the Kenyan Air Force, mainly in human resources.[3][2]
Ahmed has a degree from the National Defence College and the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies and a diploma in management from Strathmore University.[2] She transferred to the Kenyan Air Force when the Women Service Corps was dissolved in 1999 and its personnel integrated into the remaining Kenyan armed forces.[3] This also removed the limitation for members of the Women Service Corps on not marrying or getting pregnant; Ahmed went on to have three children.[4] She served as deputy commander of a battalion and later as head of personnel at the Kenyan Air Force headquarters.[2] Ahmed was promoted to the rank of brigadier on 10 August 2015 and was also appointed managing director of the Defense Forces Medical Insurance Scheme.[2][5] She was the first female brigadier in Kenya.[5]
Ahmed was promoted to major general in 2018, making her Kenya's first female major general.[6] Later, in 2024, she became the first female commander of Kenya's air force, which also made her the first woman to lead one of Kenya's military services.[7]
References
edit- ^ Ngirachu, John (25 August 2015). "Kenya: I Joined Military By Accident – Brigadier". The Nation (Nairobi). Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "Uhuru shuffles military chiefs". Daily Nation Kenya. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "I joined military by accident: brigadier". Daily Nation Kenya. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Ahmed: My journey to the top in military – VIDEO". Daily Nation. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Who Is Fatumah Ahmed? Kenya Military Appoints First Woman Brigadier". International Business Times. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Njeru, Bettty (14 July 2018). "Who is Major General Fatuma Ahmed?". The Standard. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Maj Gen Fatuma Ahmed: Kenya's first woman air force commander". www.bbc.com.