Born to be a General: New CDF Charles Kahariri's journey

Becoming a general in any military is perhaps the highest achievement one can aspire to in the realm of arms.

It represents the pinnacle of the hierarchy—a position attained by only a select few, with statistics worldwide confirming that generally, only one percent of a cadet class rise to the rank of general.

In every sense, becoming a general requires a stroke of luck. It's as if all the stars in the sky align in a peculiar pattern to pass on the baton of generalship.

For my dear brother,  Gen Charles Kahariri, it seems the stars have aligned, albeit in tragic circumstances.

We grew up together in Mombasa in the early '70s, where our parents served in the same organization. He was closer to my younger brother, making him about four years my junior.

His parents—his mother tall for a woman, his father a bald, relatively tall, baby-faced, slim, and soft-spoken man—seemed to have passed on these traits to him. And indeed, the son has become the father.

I joined the Kenya Navy as a seaman, the lowest rank, and soon after, in early 1988, after attaining the rank of corporal, a new batch of freshly promoted naval officers, including Lt Kahariri, reported for duty.

While we may have crossed paths, there was always a professional distance between us, as is customary in uniformed services.

Back then, Lt Kahariri already displayed exceptional professionalism and stood out among his peers. After advanced seamanship training overseas, he returned to seamlessly integrate back into the peacetime routine, earning praise for his dedication and skill.

His career progression saw him rise to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the late '90s. Subsequently, he was handpicked to lead the personal staff of the renowned Kenyan peacekeeper Lieutenant General Daniel Opande during the Sierra Leone crisis, a role he executed with exceptional zeal.

In subsequent years, he assumed various command roles, including leading the maritime force during Operation Linda Nchi, demonstrating his ability to handle high-pressure situations with ease.

Following his recent promotion to General and his sensitive appointment, he finds himself on the threshold of the highest office, a testament to his exemplary career.

Before his recent appointment, General Kahariri's background, personality, and career were undoubtedly subjected to rigorous scrutiny, confirming his suitability for the role.

As we wait to see what the future holds, it's clear that once again, the stars have aligned in his favour.