President William Ruto appointed Maj. Gen. Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed as Kenya’s first female air force commander and military leader.
Ahmed’s appointment follows last month’s helicopter catastrophe, which killed several individuals, including the military leader. She was appointed alongside other high-level officials, including a new head of the armed forces.
According to the BBC, Maj. Gen. Ahmed was the first woman to reach to the level of major general and brigadier in the traditionally male-dominated military leadership.
When she joined the military in 1983, she was assigned to the Women’s Service Corps, a female-only unit that handled support services such as communication, logistics, medical care, and administration.
When it was disbanded in 1999, its members were permitted to join the main armed services—the army, navy, and air force. This allowed more women to join and advance in the military, which Ahmed took advantage of.
In 2018, the trailblazer was promoted to Major General. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta hoped she would serve as a positive role model for women in Kenya. “Prove to them that there are no limits for women.”
According to the BBC, Maj. Gen. Ahmed previously remarked that her uncle’s military service inspired her to serve, complimenting his discipline and determination, which “shaped my life from a very early stage”.
In 2018, she told Citizen TV that some of her family members had discouraged her from enlisting, claiming “that’s not a profession for women.”
“But I was determined to make a difference in my life,” she declared.