Piece by: JAMES MBAKA

28 April 2023

• Kiugu takes over from Maj Gen Jeff Nyagah who resigned as EACRF commander in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• In the latest military changes, Ruto also named Nyagah as the general officer of Western Command [GOC WESTCOM].

President William Ruto has appointed major general Alphaxard Muthuri Kiugu as the new commander for the East Africa Community Regional Force.

In the latest military changes, Ruto also named Nyagah as the general officer of Western Command [GOC WESTCOM].

In a letter seen by The Star, Maj Gen Nyagah cited constant harassment and smear campaigns in media as the reason for his exit.

He said the harassment has been a making of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which has been calling on the EACRF's command to be rotational, after every three months.

"Honourable Secretary General, as you are aware, there was an attempt to intimidate my security at my former residence by deploying foreign military contractors (mercenaries) who placed monitoring devices, flew drones and conducted physical surveillance of my residence in early January 2023 forcing me to relocate," his letter reads.

"Honourable Secretary General, there has also been a well-orchestrated and financed negative media campaign targeted at my personality and direct written false accusation of EARCRF's complacency on the handling of the M23 group."