The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Defence Hon. Soipan Tuya on Thursday, 5th June 2025 presided over a graduation ceremony for Senior Joint Command and Staff Course 40 of 2024/25, at the Joint Command and Staff College (JCSC), Karen, Nairobi.
The event marked 40 years since its establishment, a significant milestone for JCSC. The CS led the anniversary celebrations by recognising serving and retired General Officers who were pivotal in the progression of the college.
Speaking during the ceremony, the CS hailed the graduates as part of a lasting legacy, where JCSC has remained steadfast to its mission while adapting to evolving global threats and embracing innovation. She noted that completion of the course marks an exceptional milestone for the Officers’ professional journey.
“The Command and Staff Course is a transformative programme, the crucible where leadership is tested, refined, and shaped. It identifies those officers destined for high command and complex staff responsibilities, and if done right, as this College has done consistently, the result is a cadre of capable, strategic, and ethical leaders ready to serve their nations”, she added.
The CS also acknowledged the efforts of pioneers, former Commandants, alumni, and the college staff, who carried the college’s flag with pride and purpose, as evidenced by the quality of training delivered. She commended the college’s control board for the transformational leadership they continued to offer.
The CS also extended her appreciation to allied countries for their cooperation in military training, citing it as an indication of shared trust and close ties Kenya has built globally.
The Commandant Joint Command and Staff College, Major General Erick Kinuthia appreciated the faculty and training staff, who had for a whole year toiled amid sacrifice and dedication, to ensure the graduates achieve maximum knowledge, skills and capability to serve at strategic levels of military hierachy. He noted that the graduates had exemplified zeal, selflessness, cohesiveness, and open mindedness all through their period of study, with an outcome of high level performance standards. He thanked the Ministry of Defence leadership and The National Defence University of Kenya for continued support in achieving its mandate.
The graduating cohort comprised of 90 Officers of the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and Major, 69 from KDF and 21 from allied countries namely Botswana, Bukina Faso, Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi, Namibia, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The CS presented all graduates with certificates and recognized outstanding course participants who included Major Caroline Mururu (Kenya Army) – Best Overall, Major Kengo Mrisa (Kenya Army) and Major Jairus Luane (Kenya Air Force)– joint Second Best Overall, Lieutenant Colonel Atersaw Wudu (Ethiopia National Defence Force) – Best Allied Student, Major Kengo Mrisa (Kenya Army) – Best Peer rated, Major Paul Wairagu (Kenya Army) – Best in Commandant’s Service Paper, Major Geoffrey Mosol (Kenya Army) – Best in Postgraduate Diploma, and Major Robert Bamuhoro (Uganda People’s Defence Force) – Best in Ordinary Diploma.
JCSC is a tri-Service college of National Defence University – Kenya (NDU-K) where tactical level commanders and Staff Officers officers are trained. Since its inception in 1984, the college has conducted 101 courses, 40 of them being Senior Joint Command and Staff course.
The day’s celebrations were attended by Chief of the Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri, Defence Principal Secretary Dr. Patrick Mariru, Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lieutenant General John Omenda, Service Commanders, General Officers, Retired General Officers, among other Senior military, national government and allied nations officials.
Add Comment