Gen Opande: The General Who Never Became A General

Lieutenant General Daniel Ishamel Opande is widely regarded as a ‘general’ though he never actually made it from Lieutenant General to full General rank.

By 2000, he was Kenya’s Vice Chief of the military when he was ‘controversially’ appointed to lead the United Nations peace keeping efforts as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

His new duty at Sierra Leonne effectively meant that he was now out of the race to succeed Gen Tonje, paving the way for Gen Joseph Kibwana to become Kenya’s military head.

Leaving the disappointment of not becoming a general and Chief of Kenya’s military, Lt Gen Opande would impress the world in his new posting that came immediately after Kenyan soldiers who were part of UN peacekeeping troops were kidnapped and some killed by rebels.

After a successful mission in Sierra Leonne (2000-2003) that also included overseeing a successful election in 2001, the United Nations Secretary General yet again appointed Lt Gen Opande as the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia where he served until 2005.

Lt Gen Opande earned praises across the globe with his peace keeping mission successes, given that UN’s efforts had previously borne no fruits in Rwanda and Liberia.

Sierra Leonne and the world best remembers him for his ‘No More War’ slogan that is still widely used.

After Kenya’s disputed 2007 poll, he is credited with being among those who worked hard to help realize the Raila-Kibaki agreement that ended the violence.

Lt. Gen Opande’s distinguished service earned him a special place in history when he was listed in the American Military Hall of Fame by the National Defense University, Washington DC, one of the highest honors for a soldier.