Maj Gen Joyce Chelang’at Sitienei, MBS, ‘ndc’(K)

Major General Joyce Sitienei is a senior officer in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Centre for Security and Strategic Studies (CSSS) at the National Defence University-Kenya.

With over three decades of distinguished service, she is a seasoned military educationist, strategic leader, and expert in gender, peace, and conflict studies. Her extensive career spans command, instructional, research, and policy leadership appointments, including serving as Director of the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC). She has made significant contributions to the professionalization of military education and the integration of gender perspectives within defence and security institutions.

Major General Sitienei is widely recognized for advancing gender mainstreaming within defence structures and peace support operations, contributing substantially to national and regional policy development in Security Sector Reform and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

Her key professional competencies include strategic leadership and defence management; peacekeeping and conflict resolution; gender mainstreaming and policy development; curriculum design and educational planning; research, monitoring and evaluation; adult education and training methodology; and programme development and implementation.
 

Maj Gen Sitienei has held progressive leadership, training, and policy appointments, including:

• Deputy Vice Chancellor (CSSS), National Defence University-Kenya (June 2025 – Present)
• Director, International Peace Support Training Centre (July 2021 – June 2025)
• Colonel, Plans and Programmes, IPSTC (2016 – 2020)
• Head, Applied Research, IPSTC (2013 – 2016)
• Head, Research, IPSTC (2010 – 2011)
• Head, Curriculum Design, Development & Evaluation, IPSTC (2007 – 2010)
• Head, Distance Learning, Defence Forces School of Higher Education (2012 – 2013)
• Head, INFIL Courses, Armed Forces School of Higher Education (2004 – 2007)
• Instructor, Armed Forces School of Higher Education (1997 – 2001)
• Education Officer, 15 Kenya Rifles (2001)
• Education Officer, Women Service Corps (1995 – 1997)

Prior to commissioning, she served as a Graduate Teacher at Longisa Secondary School (1990 – 1994).
 

Major General Joyce Sitienei served as an Instructor with the Kenya Military Advisory Training Team (KMATT) in Rwanda from 2001 to 2002. She later deployed as a United Nations Military Observer (MILOB) with the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) from 2003 to 2004. Her peacekeeping experience catalyzed her sustained commitment to Women, Peace and Security and to advancing institutional gender reforms within defence structures.

Major General Joyce Sitienei authored “Impact of Armed Conflict on Women in Somalia,” an Issue Brief published by the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) in September 2013. The brief examines the gendered dimensions of armed conflict in Somalia, highlighting the disproportionate impact on women and girls, including displacement, gender-based violence, and socio-economic disruption, while underscoring the critical role of women in peacebuilding and security processes in line with the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

As Director, Maj Gen Sitienei provided overall strategic leadership of IPSTC’s multinational training, research, and partnership programmes. She strengthened institutional governance, enhanced regional collaboration, and oversaw the implementation of gender and peace support frameworks across Eastern Africa and beyond.

Maj Gen Sitienei is an accomplished trainer and facilitator with extensive experience in adult education methodologies and military instructional systems. Her instructional roles include:

• Lead Facilitator, Civil-Military Coordination and Gender in Peacekeeping – IPSTC and the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre (Canada)
• Trainer, Security Sector Reform Workshops – Mogadishu, Somalia (2015)
• Instructor, Kenya Military Advisory Training Team – Rwanda (2001–2002)
• Facilitator in regional gender mainstreaming seminars across Africa
• Resource Person for the Africa Centre for Security Studies
• Instructor for Military History and Defence Instructional Techniques (DIT)at the Defense Forces School of Education and Languages (DEFSEL)

She has trained military, police, and civilian officers in peacekeeping operations, gender integration, curriculum development, and institutional capacity building.
 

• Graduate, National Defence College (Kenya) – Course 23 (2020/2021)
• Regional Senior Mission Leaders Course, Nairobi (2016)
• Gender Mainstreaming Seminar, Arusha, Tanzania (2015)
• Child Protection (CPTM & STM), Nairobi (2013)
• Gender and Peacebuilding Workshop, Nairobi (2013)
• Integrated Crisis Management Course (2012)
• UN Staff Officers Course, SWEDINT, Stockholm, Sweden (2011)
• Civil-Military Interaction Seminar, CMCOE, Sydney, Australia (2011)
• Security Sector Reform Course, International Peace Support Training Centre (2011)
• Horn of Africa Regional Seminar on Transnational Threats, NESA Center, Istanbul (2011)
•  Civil-Military Coordination Course, Sando, Sweden (2008)
• Project Development & Management Course, Kenya Institute of Administration (1998)
• Basic French, Alliance Française (1998)
• Officer Cadet Course, Armed Forces Training School, Lanet (1994–1995)
• Computer Applications – IAT & Egerton University

• Major General Joyce Sitienei holds a Master of Arts in International Studies (2021) from the University of Nairobi. She previously earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies (2013) from Africa Nazarene University, and a Bachelor of Education (Arts) (1990) from Kenyatta University.

• She completed her Advanced Level (A-Level) education at Kapsabet Girls High School from 1985 to 1986, having earlier attained her Ordinary Level (O-Level) education at the same institution from 1981 to 1984.

In recognition of her distinguished and exemplary service, she is a recipient of the Member of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS), conferred by the President of the Republic of Kenya in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces; United Nations Medals for Peacekeeping Service; and the 2024 Kenya Trailblazer Award for her outstanding contribution to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Maj Gen Sitienei has led or significantly contributed to major defence and security policy frameworks, including:

• Development of the IPSTC Gender Policy (Launched November 2015)

• Spearheading the Ministry of Defence Gender Policy (Launched May 2017)

• Leading formulation of the Kenya Defence Forces Policy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (2024–2025).
   

• English (Excellent)
• Kiswahili (Very Good)
• French (Intermediate)

Maj Gen Sitienei is a devoted mother of one child and balances her professional commitments with strong family values grounded in service, integrity, and mentorship.