Check Kenya Army Ranks, Symbols And Salaries 2023 Here

Have you been wondering how much the Kenya Armed Forces Earn monthly or even their Ranks and Symbols? If yes, then this informative article is for you. You will be given detailed information about Kenya Army Ranks, Symbols, And Salaries 2023.

The Kenya Defence Forces, or KDF, was established in the 2010 constitution of Kenya and falls under the Ministry of Defense. The forces constitute three arms, namely: the Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, and the Kenya Air Force. Several Kenyans are curious to find out the Kenya army ranks and salaries, which have been a hot topic since the recent Kenya Defence Forces pay review.

KDF is charged with the defence and protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kenya. Recruitment to the forces is done annually, and eligible candidates are between 26 and 34 years. Kenya army ranks and salaries are based on the candidates’ level of education and years of experience, among other factors.

Kenya Army Ranks And Salaries

The General is the highest-ranking soldier and the chief of defence forces, while the private is the junior-most rank in the army. Each of the three services within the KDF has distinct functions.

Regardless of their cadre, officers are assessed strictly based on merit to gain promotion to a higher position. Each of them falls under a service commander in charge of their operations. The advancement is applicable for commissioned and non-commissioned officers. Below are the KDF ranks in Kenya:

Non-Commissioned Officers

They are otherwise referred to as NCOs. Below are the Kenya army ranks of non-commissioned officers:

• Private: A Private is the lowest rank occupied by non-commissioned officers. It is the first rank attained immediately after completing Phase 1 at KDF training school.
• Corporal: The second-lowest cadre is attained after three years in service and after passing the Phase 2 training.
• Sergeant: With the responsibility of the rank, officers can only attain this position after 12 years of service. It’s a second in command rank for a platoon or troop of 35 soldiers. The Sergeant also advises the junior officers.
• Senior Sergeant: A promotion to either a Colour or Staff Sergeant is attained after two years as a Sergeant. It is the highest management of equipment and soldiers of around 120. With the rank, you can command a whole platoon or troop.
• Warrant Officer II: It is a senior management rank with a complete focus on training, prosperity, and discipline of around 120 soldiers. In this rank, you can act as a senior adviser to a Major in command of a sub-unit.
• Warrant Officer I: It is a rank attained after 18 years of exemplary service. Warrant Officers are senior advisors to the unit’s commanding officer. They are responsible for the leadership, welfare, and discipline of around 650 soldiers and equipment.

Commissioned Officers

This category of officers joins the military as cadets. They start their training at Kenya Military Academy (KMA) in Lanet, Nakuru County. Below are the Kenyan military ranks for commissioned officers:

• Cadet: This is a rank the officers hold immediately after training in Lanet. They are junior officers among the commissioned officers.
• Second Lieutenant: Officers hold this position after two years of graduation from KMA. They can have the rank for up to three years while undergoing specialized training. In this rank, you will lead up to 30 soldiers in a troop or platoon, both in operations and training.
• Lieutenant: Officers attain this rank after serving for three to five years. They will be in the position for three years with an opportunity to gain more specialized skills out of your unit. Afterward, they will have the responsibility of leading up to 30 soldiers in a troop or platoon.
• Captain: Officers who attain this rank must have served for up to six years and will be second in command for up to 120 soldiers in a sub-unit. They are part of decision-making and planning processes with on-ground tactical responsibility on operations, logistic support, maintenance of equipment, and workforce.
• Major: Officers gain promotion to this rank after around 8 – 10 years of outstanding service and leadership skills. They get to command a sub-unit of about 120 soldiers and officers. Majors are responsible for administration, welfare, and training of their sub-unit both in operations and in the camps, and managing their equipment.
• Lieutenant Colonel: Kenya armed forces officers hold this position for two years, commanding 4 – 5 sub-units with up to 650 soldiers. They are responsible for their overall operational effectiveness in general discipline, welfare, and military capabilities.
• Colonel: As a colonel, the officer is not a field commander but the lowest of the staff ranks. The KDF staff will be a senior operational advisor to the senior officers and serve as a staff officer between field commands at brigade or battalion level.
• Brigadier: As a brigadier, the KDF staff will be a field officer in charge of a brigade or a staff director.
• Major General: A Major General is in charge of divisions and senior staff appointments. They are in charge of promotions in the military and are at times referred to as two-star generals. Maor Generals can be promoted to service commanders.
• Lieutenant General: This is one of the highest military ranks in Kenya. In this cadre, officers will be in charge of Corps-sized formations.
• General: This is the senior-most rank, holding positions such as the Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Defence Staff, or General Staff. Only one person can hold the General position at a time.

How Much Does A Kenyan Army Officer Earn?

As with any other job field in the country, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission of Kenya (SRC) is mandated to review the Kenya Army salary ranges. The KDF salaries are jointly evaluated every four years, and SRC did the last review in 2017. In the revised structure, the highest KDF payslip reads slightly above 1 million Kenya Shillings.

Officers who live in the barracks also enjoy other benefits for army employees, like buying commodities at half price. Officers also enjoy handsome allowances while on peace missions. Below is a categorization of the KDF salary scales for all the ranks in 2023.

• The salary for officers still undergoing training is KShs 7,172 as they wait to be recruited to higher ranks.
• The KDF cadet salary is Ksh 11, 852 per month. Officer cadets take home Ksh 24, 520 monthly, after having worked in the military for three years.
• A Private is the lowest rank, and you will take home between 19,941 and 30,000 Kenya shillings monthly.
• Lance Corporals takes home 26,509 Kenya shillings monthly.
• A Corporal will take home 32,250 Kenya shillings monthly.
• The Captains takes home 73,182 Kenya shillings monthly.
• The Majors takes home 102,106 Kenya shillings every month.
• The Lieutenant Colonels take home 130,735 Kenya shillings per month.
• The salary of Colonels is 153,317 Kenya shillings monthly.
• The salary of Lieutenant Generals is 632,984 Kenya shillings monthly.
• The Commander of the Kenya Air Force is paid KShs 906,014 every month.
• The Commander of the Kenya Navy earns KShs 902,432 monthly.
• The Vice Chief of Defense Forces is KShs 927,500 per month.
• The Chief of Defense Forces now takes home a whopping 1,120,000 Kenya shillings.

KDF Specialist Officers Salary

The KDF Specialist Officers enter the service with an underlying training in any professional field, especially graduates. They undertake various training exercises to sharpen their military skills to undertake any task assigned to them upon completing their training. Their salary is based on their job description and area of specialization.

Kenya Army ranks and salaries in Kenya remain a widely discussed matter countrywide. As more youth aspire to join the armed forces, the KDF will continue to enjoy handsome compensation from the government for their crucial role in providing defence and security to the country’s borders.

What’s your take on this? We believe this article was helpful, if yes, don’t hesitate to share this information with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and other Social Platforms.