Major General Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed, Kenya’s first female Kenya Air Force commander, has officially retired, capping a remarkable 42-year military career marked by groundbreaking achievements and national service.
Ahmed made history in May 2024 when she was appointed by President William Ruto to lead the Air Force, becoming the first woman in Kenya’s history to take command of a branch of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Her retirement was confirmed this week, and she has been succeeded by Major General Benard Waliaula, who now assumes leadership of the country’s aerial defense operations.
“Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed has been a trailblazer and an inspiration to generations of women in uniform,” a senior KDF official told sauce.co.ke on condition of anonymity.
Ahmed’s illustrious career included key leadership roles in military intelligence, logistics, and gender integration. She was widely lauded for championing the inclusion of women in the armed forces and remains a symbol of resilience and leadership within the East African security sector.
