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The Hydropower Boom in Africa: A Green Energy Revolution Africa is tapping into its immense hydropower potential, ushering in an era of renewable energy. With monumental projects like Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Inga Dams in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the continent is gearing up to address its energy demands sustainably while driving economic growth.
Northern Kenya is a region rich in resources, cultural diversity, and strategic trade potential, yet it remains underutilized in the national development agenda.
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Born and raised in Meru County, Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed never planned a military career. At nineteen she encountered a recruitment parade by chance, tried her luck, and earned a coveted slot in the Women Service Corps. That choice set her on a path few Kenyan women had ever trodden, let alone mastered.
Commissioned in 1985, she transferred to the Kenya Air Force when the Women Service Corps was integrated into the main services. Over the decades she commanded units, audited personnel records, and served as a battalion second-in-command. Internationally, she completed a United Nations Military Observer tour in the Democratic Republic of Congo and later shaped doctrine as a Training Officer at the UN Secretariat in New York.
Major General Ahmed’s résumé blends field credibility with academic rigor. She is a graduate of the Defence Staff College and the National Defence College, holds a Diploma in Management from Strathmore University, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Human Development. Decorations including the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) and the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) attest to her operational excellence and administrative acumen.
In 2015 she became Kenya’s first female Brigadier; three years later she was promoted to Major General and appointed Assistant Chief of Defence Forces for Personnel and Logistics. Her latest appointment as Air Force Commander—effective May 2024—elevates her to the highest operational seat in the service, a landmark moment for gender inclusion across Africa’s militaries.
As the new Commander, Major General Ahmed oversees strategic air defence, air-lift logistics, training, and modernization of aerial assets. She must steer the service through regional security challenges, manage procurement transparency, and integrate cutting-edge technology—all while mentoring a new generation of officers and reinforcing the Air Force’s culture of professionalism.
Her promotion resonates far beyond barracks gates. It signals Kenya’s resolve to broaden opportunities for women in security roles and inspires young girls contemplating careers in science, aviation, and defence. Civil-society leaders hail the appointment as proof that merit, not gender, determines advancement in Kenya’s evolving public institutions.
Major General Ahmed steps into command during a period of heightened regional volatility and rapid technological change. Her success will hinge on balancing hard-power readiness with soft-power diplomacy, nurturing airmen and airwomen, and sustaining the service’s reputation for discipline and operational excellence. If her past trajectory is any guide, the Kenya Air Force is set for an era defined by strategic foresight and inclusive leadership.
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