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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">David Kater Biography </h2>
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<p>Lieutenant General <strong>David Kipkemboi Ketter</strong> is a senior officer in the <strong>Kenya Defence Forces (KDF)</strong> and currently serves as the <strong>Commander of the Kenya Army</strong>, a position he assumed on <strong>June 27, 2025</strong>, following a promotion by President <strong>William Ruto</strong>. His appointment places him in a strong position to become the next <strong>Chief of Defence Forces (CDF)</strong>, based on the rotational leadership tradition known as the <strong>Tonje Rules</strong>.</p>
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<p>Ketter was promoted from <strong>Major General to Lieutenant General</strong>, making him a three-star general—the second-highest rank in the KDF. He succeeded <strong>Lieutenant General David Tarus</strong>, who was redeployed as Vice Chancellor of the <strong>National Defence University</strong>.</p>
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<p>Before his current role, Ketter served as the <strong>Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics</strong>, where he was responsible for operational readiness, human resource planning, and logistics across all branches of the KDF. He also represented Kenya as <strong>Chief of Delegation in military sports</strong>, and participated in key military seminars focused on leadership and mentorship.</p>
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<p>His appointment aligns with the <strong>Tonje Rules</strong>, an unwritten but respected tradition in the KDF that rotates the position of CDF among the Army, Navy, and Air Force. With the current CDF, <strong>General Charles Kahariri</strong>, coming from the Navy (appointed in 2024), and his predecessor, <strong>General Francis Ogolla</strong>, from the Air Force, the next CDF is expected to come from the Army. This makes Ketter the most likely successor when General Kahariri retires in <strong>2028</strong>, either upon completing his four-year term or reaching the mandatory retirement age of 62.</p>
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<p>Despite his high rank, Ketter maintains a <strong>low public profile</strong>, and little is known about his personal life, including his age, family, or education. However, his military career reflects a steady rise through the ranks, marked by discipline, operational leadership, and strategic planning.</p>
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