Editing Kenya Defence Forces (section)

===Moi Administration===
[[File:Organization of the Armed Forces 1975.png|thumb|right|300px|Organization of the Kenyan Armed Forces, 1975.]]
The South African Institute for Security Studies wrote when Moi was still in power:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iss.co.za/af/profiles/Kenya/SecInfo.html |title=Kenya - Security Information |access-date=30 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616083427/http://www.iss.co.za/Af/profiles/Kenya/SecInfo.html |archive-date=16 June 2008 }}</ref> "the Kenyan armed forces' reputation as a politically neutral establishment has been undermined by irrefutable evidence of tribal favouritism in the appointment of key posts. In the military (and also the Police and GSU), there is a virtual monopoly of President Moi's ethnic group, the [[Kalenjin people|Kalenjin]], in the top brass. Of 18 military generals, at least a third are Kalenjin; of 20 brigadiers, 7 are Kalenjin—an ethnic group that accounts for only a tenth of Kenya's population. This obviously works to the disadvantage, especially, of the [[Kikuyu people|Kikuyu]] and the [[Luo (Kenya and Tanzania)|Luo]]."

From the 1990s the Kenya Army became involved in [[United Nations peacekeeping]] operations, which, Hornsby says, 'offered both experience and a source of income for the army and its soldiers.'{{sfn|Hornsby|2012|p=554}} (The United Nations reimburses troop contributing countries for each soldier contributed.) Kenya's first peacekeeping deployment was to the [[United Nations Iran–Iraq Military Observer Group]] to supervise the ceasefire;{{sfn|Berman|Sams|2000|page=406}} then [[UNTAG]] in Namibia. From 1989 to 2001, Kenyan troops took part in UNTAG, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNCRO (Croatia), UNTAES, UNOMIL, [[UNPREDEP]] in Macedonia (1996–1999), [[MONUA]] in Angola (1997–1999), and [[UNTAET]] in East Timor (1999–2001).<ref>{{cite web |author=Dr. Vince Sinning |url=http://www.un.int/kenya/peacekeeping.htm |title=PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS: Kenya Mission to the United Nations in New York, USA |access-date=10 July 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927100320/http://www.un.int/kenya/peacekeeping.htm |archive-date=27 September 2013 }}</ref> In 1999–2000, women were integrated into the regular units of the military, and the Women's Service Corps disbanded.<ref name=AhmedAccident />
[[File:US Navy 060806-N-0411D-109 Kenyan Army Brig. Gen. and Natural Fire Commanding Officer, Leonard Ngondi, left, greets U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Steve Nichols, left, at Camp Lonestar.jpg|thumb|300px|Kenyan Army Brig. Gen. Leonard Ngondi, Natural Fire Commanding Officer, left, greets U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Steve Nichols, left, at Camp Lonestar in Kenya, 2006.]]
In the early 21st century, the Ministry of State for Defence, just like that of Internal Security and Provincial Administration, is part of the presidential machinery. All but senior military officers are appointed, promoted, and, if necessary, removed by the military's personnel system. The president appoints and retires senior military officers. Under the authority of the president as Commander-in-Chief, the Minister of Defence presides over the National Defence Council. The Chief of General Staff is the tactical, operational and administrative head of the military. Under the 2010 constitution, the defence forces can no longer be deployed for combat operations within Kenya without the approval of Parliament.