Former Chief of Defense Forces Samson Mwathethe Builds Multi-Million-Shilling Church in Kilifi

Former Chief of Defense Forces General Samson Mwathethe has built a new church in his hometown of Ganze, Kilifi County.

Mwathethe built the multi-million-shilling Christ The King ACK Church as a gift for his Jila village after retiring from the military where he served for four decades.

The new church was consecrated and opened on Sunday by Reverend Lawrence Dena, the first Bishop of the ACK Diocese of Malindi.

Mwathethe attended the ceremony alongside Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, Defense CS Monica Juma, Devolution CAS Gideon Mung’aro, Senator Steward Madzayo, among other political and church leaders.

Speaking during the consecration service, Mwathethe said the church plays a vital role in shaping society.

Mwathethe was appointed as the Chief of Defense Forces in 2015 and retired from the military in April last year, having served for 42 years. 

Mwathethe, who was succeeded by General Robert Kibochi, made it clear that he would not join politics following his retirement.

“When it was announced that I will be retiring people started making suggestions that I join politics but I will not go that route. I am a military officer. Military and politics do not go together,” Mwathethe said.

He previously served in various capacities in the military including stints as the Vice Chief of Defense, the Commander of the Kenya Navy, and the Kenya Navy Logistics Commander.

In November 2020, Mwathethe was appointed as the new Chairman of the electricity-generating company KenGen board to replace Joshua Choge.