All eyes are on President William Ruto after the National Defence College Commandant Major General Rashid Elmi attained retirement age of 59 for the officers of his rank.
Going by his profile on the National Defence University-Kenya website, Major General Elmi is now 59 years, having been born in September 1964.
According to the rules set by former Chief of Kenya Defence Forces General ( Rtd) Daudi Tonje, a General will retire at 62 years, 61 years Lieutenant General and 59 years for Major General.
This means that the NDC boss has already surpassed the retirement age by one month. What next for him? All eyes will be on Dr Ruto who is the Commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces.
Major General Elmi was in April 2023 appointed as NDC Commandant. Before that appointment, he served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor in-charge of Applied Research and Security Studies at the National Defence University-Kenya.
A squadron pilot, Major General Elmi joined the Kenya Defence Forces in 1984 and commissioned as second lieutenant in 1985. He qualified as a squadron pilot in 1987.
An academic giant, he is currently pursuing a PhD in security studies at Kenyatta University. He is also a holder of two masters degrees, one in Business Adminstration in Aviation management from Moi University and another one in Arts from the Catholic University of East Africa.
Major General Elmi is also a holder of Bachelor of Arts degree from the Catholic University of East Africa. Besides that, he is also a holder of Diploma in military art and science from Air University- Alabama, USA.
General Rashid Elmi has done many professional Military Courses, Namely; Graduate of the National defense College (NDC) â Kenya, Air Command & Staff College USA, Basic and advanced Intelligence Courses at the School of Military Intelligence-Kenya and the Intelligence University in Washington, USA.
The Kenya Air Force man had previously served as senior directing staff, air at the NDC. He had also worked as an instructor at the military intelligence college.
Major General Elmi has also served in various peacekeeping assignments in Kosovo and Kuwait.