A brief life history of the late Joseph Nkaissery

The late Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery.

NAIROBI—Joseph Nkaissery, the Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security has passed on Saturday morning at the Karen Hospital. He was admitted at the facility at 3 pm Friday afternoon shortly after he attended a prayer rally with other leaders at Uhuru park.

Born November 28 1949 as Kasaine Ole Nkaissery,  he was a Maasai elder, a politician and former military officer who rose to the rank of Major-General.

Student life

At the age of 11, he joined Ilbisil Primary School between 1960-1966. From there, he was admitted to Olekajuado High School.

1997- 1999: Student at United States Army College, USA for Post graduate Diploma, strategic Leadership and Management

1996 -1997: Student at Kennedy School Havard University,USA for Leadership and Development

1985 – 1986: Student at Defence staff college Military Academy in Dehra Dun, India

1971 – 1972: Student at Kenyatta College now Kenyatta University, Degree in Education but dropped after a year.

Political career

10th March 2013 -2nd December 2014: Member of Parliament for Kajiado Central

13th February 2013 – 2014: Coalition Member of Coalition for Reforms & Democracy

2007 – 2014: Member of Orange Democratic Movement

2008 – 4th March 2013: Member of Parliament for Kajiado Central

2008 – 4th March 2013: Assistant Minister for Defence of Cabinet

2003 -2007: Member of Parliament for Kajiado Central

Career in the military

Starting December 2002: Commandant of Armed Forces Training College & GOC Westcom

1999 – 2002: GOC Western  of Kenya Army

1997 -1998: Deputy Commandant/Chief Instructor

1994- 1996: Brigade Commander of Kenya Army

1992 -1993: Chief of Personnel of Kenya Army

His last job in the army before retiring was as a commandant of the Armed Forces Training College and GOC Westcom. He retired in December 2002 after 29 years of service.

n 2009, he was part of the William Ntimama – led group that was opposed to a deal between the government and Rift Valley leaders for Mau evictees to be compensated. They called for their immediate eviction to save the country from environmental degradation.

In 2010, he told parliament that two Kenyan soldiers, Senior Sergeant Jonathan Kipkosgei Kangogo and Corporal Evan Mutoro, had been captured in Somalia on July 24. This was before Kenya Defense Forces went into Somalia.

It was during his tenure as Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Defence that Kenya Defence Forces invaded Somalia and in 2011 the Operation Linda Nchi launched. Kenya signed agreement with Somali’s defence ministry for collaboration in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

In November 2010, along with Defence Minister Yusuf Hajj, fellow assistant David Musila and Military head Julius Karangi appeared before a parliamentary committee on a controversy over the purchase of used Air Force jets from Jordan.

While doubling as an assistant minister and MP, he always attended parliament sittings and was at one point lauded while other ministers and their assistants were blacklisted for failing to respond to scheduled questions.