Philip Kameru
Former MI and NIS chief (Kenya)
Philip Wachira Kameru, popularly referred to as Philip Kameru, is a retired Major General of the Kenya Army. He is a former longtime chief of Military Intelligence (MI) and, after retirement, was appointed to lead the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
He was handpicked as a close confidant of Kenya's fourth president Uhuru Kenyatta since the NIS chief serves as the President's chief national security adviser. He opted for premature retirement from the NIS but agreed to stay a few months on the insistence of Kenyatta's successor and former ally-turned-rival William Ruto.
Known Academic History:-
MA in International Studies (institute and term not known)
MSc in Security Management (institute and term not known)
MSc in Natural Resources Management (institute and term not known)
Known Professional History:-
Brigadier/ Director of MI (?-11)
Major General/ Director General of MI (2011-14)
Major General (Retired)/ Director General of NIS (2014-23)
Miscellaneous:-
As Colonel, Kameru was rumoured to be head of an ultra-secretive military communications centre 'Nexus', situated in Karen and allegedly stood up with American assistance [credible open source evidence to this effect is missing]
As Colonel, he was among the academic mentors of Major Hared Hasan Adan (Kenya Army) who was studying Master's in Military Art and Science at Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, US (2004-05) [Adan retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and presently serves as Chairman of the country's National Drought Management Authority]
As Brigadier/ MI chief, he reportedly paid a detailed visit to counterparts in the US and expressed his desire to adopt "best practices" with an eye on Al Shabaab militants (2008)
As Brigadier/ MI chief, he liaised with his American counterparts regarding concerns about arms shipments to the erstwhile Sudan People's Liberation Army, now known as South Sudan People's Defence Forces (2009)
As MI chief, he participated in a seminar on Inspectorate General inspections and investigations organised by US Africa Command (2010)
As MI chief, he was involved in intelligence operations against Islamists in Somalia (2011-19)
His extensive tenure in MI was reportedly characterised by "exemplary diligence, dedication and leadership"; in this position, he was credited credited with the success of Kenya’s intelligence-gathering in Somalia as part of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), a deployment that sought to restore peace and order to the country and secure Kenya’s border
As NIS chief, his briefs formed the basis for President Kenyatta's accountability drive against government officials accused of corruption and malpractices
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References
'Security changes mark a sombre anniversary', Africa Confidential, https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/5792/Security_changes_mark_a_sombre_anniversary
'NIS director opts for early retirement rather than work for Ruto', Africa Intelligence, https://www.africaintelligence.com/eastern-africa-and-the-horn/2022/08/31/nis-director-opts-for-early-retirement-rather-than-work-for-ruto,109808121-art
Washington Mito, 'Ruto: Why I Asked Former NIS Boss Philip Kameru to Stay in Office', Kenyans, https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/90367-ruto-why-i-asked-former-nis-boss-philip-kameru-stay-office
Cyrus Ombati, 'Kameru is Uhuru choice for Gichangi successor at NIS', The Standard, https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000132285/major-general-philip-wachira-kameru-is-president-uhuru-choice-for-gichangi-successor-at-nis
Felix Olick, 'NIS dossiers drive Uhuru's war on graft', The Star, https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018-06-04-nis-dossiers-drive-uhurus-war-on-graft/
WikiLeaks, https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09NAIROBI2497_a.html
'The Handbook of African Intelligence Cultures' edited by Ryan Shaffer
George Obulutsa, 'Kenya to stay course in quest to stabilise Somalia - President', Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/world/kenya-to-stay-course-in-quest-to-stabilise-somalia-president-idUSKBN0HG0GP/
Thesis by Major Adan at Fort Leavenworth, https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA436675.pdf
Anthony B. Dunn, 'Kenya IG Seminar', US Africa Command Blog, https://africom.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/kenya-ig-seminar-2/
'Karangi: Uhuru's Most Trusted Man', Weekly Citizen Newspaper Blog, https://weeklycitizennewspaper.blogspot.com/2014/08/karangi-uhurus-most-trusted-man.html
Jacob Ng'etich, 'Make no mistakes, the spies are back', The Standard, https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001284376/from-graft-probe-to-intelligence-the-spymaster-is-back
X News (Kenya), print issue dated 22 August 2014,
Lol I worked for General Kameru
The ‘secret military base’ was called the National Military Communication Center
My father was the commandant so my sister and I spent so much time there.
It’s located in Karen Plains and shares a fence with the Deputy President’s official residence.
In 2018, all of us techbros who worked for General Kameru were moved to the Jubilee Political Party headquarters in Pangani. We were assigned to handle intelligence for president Kenyatta.
We did Gov’t sponsored phishing, drone surveillance and oddly enough - Virtual Reality headset making. Mornings were for coding then the entire team would play Fifa together on the PlayStations the government bought for us.
Ngl, I had the time of my life working as an intern for the National Intelligence Service. General Kameru was the realest techbro!
Now he’s retired. He owns a massive beef cattle farm in Narumoru and sells beef under the brand ‘Ongole Beef’. I have some in my fridge rn. He’s shop is located right across the street from the ‘secret military base’ at Heri Plaza, Karen