Kenyan-Born Silvia Jemutai Rises to U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel

Kenyan-born U.S. Army officer Silvia Jemutai, originally from Kopsiya, Poror in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County, has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, marking a major milestone in her military career

The promotion ceremony was held on Thursday at the Ordnance Training Support Facility in Fort Lee, Virginia, where friends and family some traveling from Kenya gathered to celebrate her achievement

During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Jemutai dedicated the accomplishment to her late mother, Jacqueline Alice Kirui, whom she described as “a trailblazer… a woman of courage, strength, and vision.” She credited her mother’s resilience, guidance, and sacrifice as the driving forces behind her journey to military leadership

Addressing the attendees, Jemutai expressed deep gratitude to her family, mentors, colleagues, and soldiers who have supported her throughout her service. She reaffirmed her commitment to upholding Army values and pledged to continue leading with integrity while nurturing the next generation of military leaders

Her elevation to the O-5 rank places her among the senior field-grade officers of the U.S. Army an achievement typically reached after 16 to 22 years of outstanding service

 Also read : CBK, CMA Await Treasury Guidelines as Kenya’s Virtual Asset Law Takes Effect

Lieutenant Colonels often command battalions of 300 to 1,000 soldiers and play critical roles in training, readiness, and mission execution

They also serve in key staff positions at brigade, division, and national headquarters, contributing to strategic planning and large-scale operations.

Lt. Col. Jemutai’s accomplishment stands as a proud moment for her family, community, and many Kenyans inspired by her service and dedication

Writer : Mweru Mbugua