Kenya’s army lady Fatumah Ahmed made her way into the books of history on 13th June after she was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as the country’s first female Major General at the State House.
Her appointment synced well with United Nations Security Resolution 1325 which requires involvement and participation of women in the countries maintenance and promotion of peace and security
It is my pride and joy today to launch the first Kenyan woman as a major-general in the republic. I am counting on you to be a role model to the women in this republic and to prove to them that there is no limits for the Kenyan women, Uhuru Said.
Below are 10 facts you need to know about Kenya’s first ever female Major General in Kenya Defense Forces
- Ahmed joined KDF forces in 1983 after her female unit was fully integrated into the main force
- In 1985, she was appointed as the second lieutenant which led to her Air force postage
- In 2015, she made history again after she was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as first woman brigadier of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) .President Uhuru had been advised by the Defence Council chaired by Ambassador Raychelle Omamo, Cabinet Secretary for Defence
- Under her servitude of 32 years, she is the first woman to rise to a such high ranking military service
- Fatumah is a graduate of a Diploma from Strathmore University.
- She also graduated from National Defence College and the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies
- She has also served in the military’s administration including the potion second-in-command,in a battalion
- The lady also served as managing director of the Defence Forces Medical Insurance Scheme