Muslim woman becomes Kenya's first female major general

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

Fatuma Ahmed on Friday became the first Kenyan female soldier to be sworn in as major general of the Kenyan military.

At a swearing-in ceremony held in Nairobi, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta told Ahmed, who also became the first Muslim woman to hold such a high rank in the Kenya Defence Forces that she was a role model to many women in Kenya.

"Major General, let me begin by saying that it is my pride and joy today to witness the unveiling of the first Kenyan woman as a major general in the history of our country," he said.

"I am looking to you and counting on you to be a positive role model for other women in this Republic and to show and to prove to them that there is no limit for Kenyan women and that everything is possible.”

Kenyatta also promised the military full support in fighting terrorism.