If a female officer in the Kenya Army is going to attain the esteemed rank of a Major General, then Brigadier Joyce Sitienei could be the first one.
In a glorious military career spanning almost three decades, Brigadier Sitienei has risen through the ranks to become the senior most female officer in the Kenya Army.
Now serving as the director of the International Peace Support Training Centre, Brigadier Sitienei wields too much influence and power.
Before joining the military, Brigadier Sitienei worked as a high school teacher.
Brigadier Sitienei was appointed Director of the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) on 23 July 2021. She is an education officer in the Kenya Defence Forces. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Kenyatta University, master’s degree in International Studies from the University of Nairobi and a Post graduate Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies from the Africa Nazarene University.
Brig Joyce Sitienei has held several appointments since joining military service, key being Unit Education Officer in the Women Service Corps and the 15 Kenya Rifles, Instructor and Head of Distance Learning at the Defense Forces School of Higher Education; SO2 Lessons Learnt, Head of Curriculum design, Head of Applied Research and Col Plans and Programmes at the IPSTC.
She has extensive experience in training in instructional methodology and adult education techniques. She also has wide knowledge and practice in curriculum design.
In 2001 she worked in Rwanda as part of the Kenya Military Assistance Training Team (KMATT) and in 2002-2003 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a Military Observer. During this time, she developed great interest in gender issues and went on to participate in gender training all over Africa on behalf of the IPSTC and the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre – Canada.
She has actively participated in the Ministry of Defence/KDF and the IPSTC gender mainstreaming processes and has practical experience in undertaking gender needs assessment and gender policy formulation. She continues to facilitate training workshops and courses imparting practical gender mainstreaming skills and knowledge in support of the Institutionalization of gender at IPSTC and the Kenya Defence Forces.
Her decorations include Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS), United Nations and other Constitutional medals earned in service of the country.
By Newshub