Asafa Ayim

General Asafa Ayim (13 February 1948-24 May 2004) was a Kenyan military commander. He served as the Minister of Defence and General of the Army during the Six Years War and the Kenyan Civil War. He died of wounds on 24 May 2004.
== Early life ==
Asafa Azaan Ayim was born on 13 February 1948 in Kayaramvya, Kenyan Protectorate of Namibia. His family, like a lot of other refugees, fled the country to Rhodesia. He would grow up there and attend the University of Cecil for about a year before his family moved back to Kayaramvya. When he got back he went to the University of Westland to a degree in engineering.
== Military career ==
After obtaining a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Westland, Ayim joined the Kenyan National Liberation Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1971, in 1972 he became a Major General. 
==== Ten-Day War ====
In 1973 he served in the Ten-Day War and won the only Union victory of the war. After the war he was promoted to lieutenant general and was given the title of General of the Army. 
==== Six Years War ====
In 1979 with the outbreak of the Six Years War he was prepared and called a general mobilization the day before the war erupted so when the first KDF units approached the borders they would be pushed back. During the war he formed Combined Operations (COPS), which would maximize effectiveness of each of the branches within several operational areas. He personally lead Operation Pronghorn, which located in the north-west bush province of Dabat. In 1984, Ayim would begin a mixed campaign against the KDF forces. In 1985, he negotiated with the Islamic government into signing the Treaty of Mubklo. 
==== Kenyan Civil War ====
In 2000, all eastern Kenya erupted into civil war, and the Republic of Kenya was caught in between sides. Originally Ayim was ordered to march against the rebels, but the government and al-Musiq were still bitter about the Six Years War so now they had an excuse to march against the Republic. Now he ordered to march back to defend and counter-attack the KDF. 
== Death ==
On 24 May 2004, Ayim was shot sixteen times while leading his troops during the Battle of Daweyn. He would succumb to his wounds 3 hours later. He was given the Grand Cross of the Republic of Kenya, the highest military award in Kenya. He was also given a place in the Kenyan Cemetery of Heroes. 
== Legacy ==
Asafa Ayim left a mixed legacy, in Kenya he is regarded as a both hero to the nation, and a raving white supremist. After his death past letters revealed he committed war crimes against al-Musiq and KDF forces during the Six Years War. While people protested to get him removed from the Kenyan Cemetery of Heroes, others counter-protested justifying his actions due to the crimes the KDF committed against both civilian and military targets. In 2023, protesters vandalized and destroyed his tomb, with paint saying Chini na Asafa" which means "Down with Asafa", the Kenyan Federal Police quickly cracked down the vandals and removed some of the vandalism.
Category:Coryia People
Category:Military Person
Category:Person of Interest
Category:Officeholder