kymnjoro
Elder Lister
The aides who served during Moi's 24-year presidency included Major Samuel Macharia, Major Peter Ngugi Ikenye, Lt. Col. Wilson Boinett, Lt. Col. Alexander Sitienei, Lt. Col. Jonathan Rono, Lt. Col. Stephen Boiywo and Lt. Col. Kemei Kipng'etich.
Their careers after the ADC appointment took them to different destinations, including senior military command, intelligence leadership and elective politics.
1. MAJOR SAMUEL MACHARIA
Rank at appointment: Major
Period: 1978–1979
Major Samuel Macharia was Moi's first ADC and President Jomo Kenyatta's last. He was at the bedside of the founding father when he was pronounced dead in August 1978 and resumed duty when Moi ascended to power. In 1979, he was moved from State House and replaced by Major Peter Ngugi Ikenye.
Final rank: Brigadier.
2. MAJOR PETER NGUGI IKENYE
Rank at appointment: Major
Period: 1979–1982
Major Peter Ngugi Ikenye succeeded Macharia in 1979. He served during the attempted coup of 1 August 1982. Although ADCs are not supposed to carry guns, he put on his military uniform and carried a sub-machine gun ready to protect the president. His tenure ended shortly after the coup.
Final rank: Major General.
3. LT. COL. WILSON BOINETT
Rank at appointment: Major
Period: 1982–1994
Major Wilson Boinett took over as Moi's ADC in 1982, a month after the botched coup. He became one of Moi's longest-serving ADCs, remaining in the position for approximately 12 years. He was later sent to Mozambique in 1994 as a peace process observer, returned to head military intelligence, and was made head of the Directorate of Security Intelligence in 1995. He eventually became Director-General of the National Security Intelligence Service.
Final rank: Brigadier.
4. LT. COL. ALEXANDER SITIENEI
Rank at appointment: Lieutenant Colonel
Period: 1994–1998
Alexander Sitienei succeeded Boinett as Moi's ADC after the latter was moved to head the National Security Intelligence Service. During his years at State House, he became known for his involvement in preparing presidential speeches. In 1998. He later vied for the Sotik parliamentary seat after retiring.
Final rank: Brigadier.
5. LT. COL. JONATHAN RONO
Rank at appointment: Lieutenant Colonel
Period: 1998–2000
Lt. Col. Jonathan Rono succeeded Sitienei in 1998. He later disclosed that Moi had confided in him his intention to pick Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor two years before making it public. His tenure at State House was followed by further senior command appointments. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant General and served as the Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Final rank: Lieutenant General.
6. LT. COL. STEPHEN BOIYWO
Rank at appointment: Lieutenant Colonel
Period: 2000–2002
Lt. Col. Stephen Boiywo succeeded Rono and served during the latter part of Moi's presidency. Several published accounts identify Boiywo as the ADC who was with Moi when he retired from the presidency in December 2002.
Final rank: Colonel.
7. LT. COL. KEMEI KIPNG'ETICH
Rank at appointment: Lieutenant Colonel
Period: Final months of 2002
Kemei Kipng'etich served as Moi's ADC for the final six months of his presidency. At the time, Moi was campaigning for Uhuru Kenyatta to succeed him. In December 2002, Moi had accepted that the opposition was headed for victory. Kipng'etich was with him when he went to visit Kibaki's running mate Michael Wamalwa, who was recovering at a hospital in London. He was therefore present during the 2002 political transition and was the last officer to serve as Moi's ADC.
Final rank: Brigadier
Their careers after the ADC appointment took them to different destinations, including senior military command, intelligence leadership and elective politics.
1. MAJOR SAMUEL MACHARIA
Rank at appointment: Major
Period: 1978–1979
Major Samuel Macharia was Moi's first ADC and President Jomo Kenyatta's last. He was at the bedside of the founding father when he was pronounced dead in August 1978 and resumed duty when Moi ascended to power. In 1979, he was moved from State House and replaced by Major Peter Ngugi Ikenye.
Final rank: Brigadier.
2. MAJOR PETER NGUGI IKENYE
Rank at appointment: Major
Period: 1979–1982
Major Peter Ngugi Ikenye succeeded Macharia in 1979. He served during the attempted coup of 1 August 1982. Although ADCs are not supposed to carry guns, he put on his military uniform and carried a sub-machine gun ready to protect the president. His tenure ended shortly after the coup.
Final rank: Major General.
3. LT. COL. WILSON BOINETT
Rank at appointment: Major
Period: 1982–1994
Major Wilson Boinett took over as Moi's ADC in 1982, a month after the botched coup. He became one of Moi's longest-serving ADCs, remaining in the position for approximately 12 years. He was later sent to Mozambique in 1994 as a peace process observer, returned to head military intelligence, and was made head of the Directorate of Security Intelligence in 1995. He eventually became Director-General of the National Security Intelligence Service.
Final rank: Brigadier.
4. LT. COL. ALEXANDER SITIENEI
Rank at appointment: Lieutenant Colonel
Period: 1994–1998
Alexander Sitienei succeeded Boinett as Moi's ADC after the latter was moved to head the National Security Intelligence Service. During his years at State House, he became known for his involvement in preparing presidential speeches. In 1998. He later vied for the Sotik parliamentary seat after retiring.
Final rank: Brigadier.
5. LT. COL. JONATHAN RONO
Rank at appointment: Lieutenant Colonel
Period: 1998–2000
Lt. Col. Jonathan Rono succeeded Sitienei in 1998. He later disclosed that Moi had confided in him his intention to pick Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor two years before making it public. His tenure at State House was followed by further senior command appointments. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant General and served as the Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Final rank: Lieutenant General.
6. LT. COL. STEPHEN BOIYWO
Rank at appointment: Lieutenant Colonel
Period: 2000–2002
Lt. Col. Stephen Boiywo succeeded Rono and served during the latter part of Moi's presidency. Several published accounts identify Boiywo as the ADC who was with Moi when he retired from the presidency in December 2002.
Final rank: Colonel.
7. LT. COL. KEMEI KIPNG'ETICH
Rank at appointment: Lieutenant Colonel
Period: Final months of 2002
Kemei Kipng'etich served as Moi's ADC for the final six months of his presidency. At the time, Moi was campaigning for Uhuru Kenyatta to succeed him. In December 2002, Moi had accepted that the opposition was headed for victory. Kipng'etich was with him when he went to visit Kibaki's running mate Michael Wamalwa, who was recovering at a hospital in London. He was therefore present during the 2002 political transition and was the last officer to serve as Moi's ADC.
Final rank: Brigadier