President William Ruto appointed Major General John Maiso Nkoimo as the Deputy Commander of the Kenya Army division of the Kenya Defence Forces on Friday, June 5.

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Defence on June 5, 2026, President William Ruto appointed Nkoimo to replace Major General Mohamed Nur Hassan in a major military shake-up, which he termed a move to strengthen leadership across the armed forces.

Major General John Maiso Nkoimo has risen through different ranks of the Kenya Defence Forces to become one of the country’s most senior military officers.

                                    MAJOR GENERAL JOHN MAISO NKOIMO PROFILE

Name Major General John Maiso Nkoimo
Position Deputy Commander, Kenya Army
Branch Kenya Army
Entry 1990
Service 36 years
Key operations Kismaiyo (Somalia), UN Peacekeeping Missions
Former position GOC Central Command

Early Life and Military Career 

John Nkoimo began his military journey in 1990 when he joined the Kenya Army as a young cadet officer.

He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and later posted to the 20 Parachute Battalion in Gilgil.

John Nkoimo Defining Role in the Kismayo Offensive

Nkoimo would later be deployed to Somalia in 2011 under President Mwai Kibaki, alongside other KDF officers, as part of Kenya’s effort to combat the Al-Shabaab militant group.

He held a key command responsibility in operations around Kismayo and the southern Somalia region under the African Union mission framework.

The Kismayo mission was successful, placing Nkoimo and others in the spotlight after they weakened Al-Shabaab’s territorial control and drove it away from its key economic and operational base.

Career Progression

                                                       GENERAL JOHN NKOIMO CAREER

Year Position
1990 Joined Kenya Army, Cadet Officer
1991 Commissioned as Second Lieutenant, 20 Parachute Battalion
1990s UN Peacekeeping Mission in the former Yugoslavia
2011/2012 Command role, Somalia Operations
2023 Commandant, Kenya Military Academy (Lanet)
2023/2024 General Officer Commanding Special Operations Command
2025/2026 General Officer Commanding (GOC), Central Command
2026 JUNE Deputy Commander, Kenya Army
Appointment as Deputy Commander of the Kenya Army

As Deputy Commander of the Kenya Army, Nkoimo becomes the second-in-command of the Kenya Army, and will be tasked with:

  • Supporting overall operational command.
  • Strategic planning.
  • Personnel management.
  • Implementing national defense priorities.

Previous Leadership Roles of General John Nkoimo

  • General Commanding Officer (GOC), Central Command
  • Field Commander in Somalia in Kismayo Operations
  • Commander, Border Security Operations
  • Commandant, Joint Command and College Staff
  • Trainer and Mentor, Kenya Military Academy.

About the Kenya Army

The Kenya Army is a branch of the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) charged with defending the country from external threats.

It was formed in 1964 for border security and internal stability, anti-terrorist operations, peacekeeping missions under the United Nations and African Union, and humanitarian assistance and disaster management.

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General Nkoimo, Education, Career Background, Family Life and Achievements
Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces President William Ruto
PHOTO | William Ruto | X