JAMILA'S MEMO: Tonje rules, and a peaceful military transition

The first will be at Ulinzi sports complex, Lang’ata and the second at defence headquarters officers’ mess. 

Now, this is a two in one event and a moment of glory and honor for the Kenya Defence Forces. 

Tomorrow the military stages their formal hand over festivities that will see outgoing Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Robert Kibochi handing over to newly appointed CDF General Francis Ogolla. 

I take note of tomorrow's events because of the gossip, backstreet talk, online rumours and all manner of chit chat that attended to the elevation of General Ogolla to the position of Chief of Defence Forces.

Much of that talk revolved around the bitter divide of the last general election and the supposed attempt by the previous administration to interfere with the outcome of the elections. 

And for being present in an activity of the then national security advisory council, decorated Air Force serviceman General Ogolla was supposed to be dead meat in as far as the path up the military ranks was concerned. 

And before this memo continues, I truly hope that tomorrow marks the end of the negative talk that at some point bordered on ethnic profiling.

Back to the transition that takes place tomorrow, I once again celebrate Retired General Daudi Tonje who introduced rules that guide the promotion and retirement of senior military officers.

Despite some assertions that Tonje rules are not necessarily binding, Tonje and his rules should be honoured and remembered for one thing, promoting the culture of institutionalism. 

In the corporate space, succession planning is always a central pillar of successful companies. In the same corporate spaces, a clear career path or ladder is a key component for an efficient workforce. In a huge way Tonje rules provide a clear career path for the rank and file of the military. 

The Tonje rules also eliminated the uncertain and impulsive way of promoting military officers. 

For example, it is now possible for speculation oriented and rumour loving Kenyans to discuss possible names of who the next general will be. 

They also know for example, that anyone above the age of 62 is ineligible for appointment as CDF and more importantly, anyone appointed CDF serves for a single term of 4 years. 

I want to believe this arrangement nurtures aspiration of growth up the ranks for professional soldiers. 

They can almost tell where their career will take them, at what age and when indeed the career exits them into graceful retirement 

So I praise Tonje rules, because though I am out to get more facts I believe they also promote meritorious rise of deserving and qualified senior military officials.

And talking of merit and qualifications, many Kenyans perhaps hold a view that soldiers are not highly educated. 

If you are one of those in doubt of the academic qualifications of military officials you may need to pick a few details from the CVs of both outgoing General Kibochi and incoming General Francis Ogolla. 

Both are university graduates, Kibochi with a PhD degree in peace and conflict management and a Masters of Arts degree in International Studies and Ogolla is a graduate of ÉcoleMilitaire de Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya. He also holds a Masters of Arts degree in International Studies. 

General Ogolla is trained as a fighter pilot, a space considered something of an elite function of the military. So on qualifications, it takes sheer hard work and merit to get to positions as high as chief of defence forces. 

And so tomorrow our troops will be conducting elaborate ceremonies including the ceremonial pulling of the vehicle carrying the retiring general out of the military headquarters, Ulinzi House.

It is normally quiet a spectacle to behold and one full of symbolism. 

In a space of 23 years since Tonje retired, the Kenya Defence Forces have dutifully and in an orderly and graceful manner conducted these transitions from General Tonje to General Kibwana of the Kenya navy, and from General Kibwana to General Kianga of the Kenya Army and from general Kianga to General Karangi from the Kenya Airforce and from General Karangi to General Mwathethe of the Kenya Navy, from General Mwathethe to General Kibochi of the Kenya army who now hands over to General Ogolla of the Kenya  Air Force.,

On institutionalism there is a good culture going on at the Kenya Defence Forces and for now I mean at the top ranks. 

And so on this one I turn to the old adage, if it's not broken, do not fix it. 

And that is my memo.