Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Hon. Soipan Tuya, on Thursday presided over the graduation ceremony of the Senior Joint Command and Staff Course 40 of 2024/25 at the Joint Command and Staff College (JCSC), Karen, Nairobi.
The event also marked a significant milestone 40 years since the college’s establishment.
The ceremony brought together high-ranking military officials, both serving and retired, in recognition of the institution’s role in shaping military leadership and strategy.
Among those in attendance were Chief of the Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri, Defence Principal Secretary Dr. Patrick Mariru, Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lt. Gen. John Omenda, and service commanders from allied nations.
In her keynote address, CS Tuya hailed the graduates as torchbearers of a legacy grounded in excellence and resilience. She described the Command and Staff Course as a transformative programme that prepares officers for higher command and complex staff responsibilities.
”The course is the crucible where leadership is tested, refined, and shaped,” she said. “It has consistently produced capable, strategic, and ethical leaders ready to serve their nations.”
The CS praised the college for its adaptability to global threats and commitment to innovation, lauding past commandants, faculty, and alumni for upholding the institution’s values.
She also thanked allied countries for their continued collaboration, calling it a reflection of Kenya’s global military partnerships and trust.
JCSC Commandant Major General Erick Kinuthia commended the dedication of faculty and training staff, noting that the year-long course had equipped the officers with strategic-level skills essential to defence and security. He lauded the graduating cohort for their professionalism, zeal, and teamwork.
This year’s graduating class consisted of 90 officers—69 from the Kenya Defence Forces and 21 from allied countries including Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi, Namibia, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Among those recognized for outstanding performance were:
- 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 – Best Peer Rated
- Major Paul Wairagu (Kenya Army) – Best in Commandant’s Service Paper
- Major Geoffrey Mosol (Kenya Army) – Best in Postgraduate Diploma
- Major Robert Bamuhoro (Uganda People’s Defence Force) – Best in Ordinary Diploma
JCSC, a tri-service institution under the National Defence University – Kenya (NDU-K), has conducted 101 courses since its inception in 1984, 40 of them being Senior Joint Command and Staff Courses. It plays a critical role in developing leadership for Kenya’s defence forces and allied militaries.
The anniversary celebrations reaffirmed the college’s commitment to developing officers capable of navigating complex security environments with integrity, innovation, and strategic insight.
