For the very first time in history, a military Guard of Honuor at a national event has been led by a female officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi has become the first female senior officer to ever lead a military Guard of Honour, becoming a notable highlight at the 2024 Mashujaa Day celebrations that are held at Kwale Stadium in the coastal county of Kwale on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
“During today’s Mashujaa Day 2024 celebrations at Kwale Stadium, a notable highlight will be the presence of the Guard of Honor (GoH) commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi, marking a historic moment as she becomes the first female senior officer to lead a GoH at a national event,” Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) announced in a statement shared via their official website.
During today’s Mashujaa Day 2024 celebrations, a notable highlight will be the presence of the Guard of Honor (GoH) commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi, marking a historic moment as she becomes the first female senior officer to lead a GoH at a national event. pic.twitter.com/CzvvZSCIFN
— Kenya Defence Forces (@kdfinfo) October 20, 2024
Mwagandi’s education
According to the information available on the KDF website, Mwagandi went to Moi Girls Eldoret, where she excelled and secured admission at Kenyatta University.
However, she cut short her journey at Kenyatta University in 2007 after she came across a newspaper advertisement for KDF cadet recruitment.
Faith Mwagandi’s career
Mwagandi kicked off her career journey in the year 2007 after she joined the KDF following a decision she had made of cutting short her studies at Kenyatta University that set her on a path to break barriers.
Mwagandi, who currently serves as Staff Officer 1 (SO1) in charge of Personnel and Administration at the Kenya Navy, has made various achievements in her career.
She made history as the first female Warship Commander in East Africa, taking command of the Kenya Navy Ship (KNS) Shujaa from 2019 to 2022.
Experience
According to KDF, Mwagandi has vast experience, which includes training at the Britannia Royal Naval College in the UK and serving on various Kenya Navy vessels such as KNS Galana, KNS Shupavu, and KNS Shujaa.
She also contributed significantly as an instructor at the Kenya Navy Training School and as a navigating officer on RV Mtafiti.
Notably, she served as the Principal Warfare Officer during a critical voyage to the Netherlands for the midlife refit of KNS Shujaa.