Retired General Daniel Opande who was once tipped to lead the Kenya Defence Forces ( Photo Courtesy)
When the late President Mwai Kibaki came to power in 2003, the senior most Military officer after the CGS was Lieutenant General Opande.
Opande was often tipped for the top job and was even considered the top contender for the CGS when General Joseph Kibwana retired in 2005.
By virtue of being the longest serving Lt-General, having being promoted in 1997, many felt the top job naturally belonged to him.
The other top contenders, including Lieutenant General Jeremiah Kianga were all promoted to Lt-General in 2000 or later.
But the Kikuyu - Luo suspicion played a major role in ensuring Opande never became CDF. After the 1971 Coup d'etat, many Kikuyus leaders felt the need to have one of their own as the head of the military. Uhuru Kenyatta appointed two in succession; General Karangi and General Kibochi during his term.
Tonje having foreseen such tribal play from civilian leaders of the military, had just initiated new rules in the military requiring the post of CGS to be rotated within the three services.
Opande had served under CGS Major General Joseph Ndolo, Generals Jackson Mulinge, General Mahamoud Mohamed, General Daudi Tonje and General Joseph Kibwana.
He was the second most senior officer after Kibwana but politics ensured he never rose to be CGS.
By 2000, he was Kenya's Vice Chief of the military, the VCGS, when he was 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.
By the time he came back sadly his ROD was approaching.
But Kibaki solved his military succession problems by extending General Kibwanas term by one year.
General Opande, At 62 years meant he would have to retire. General Kianga then took over as CGS.
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