[2] He had originally distinguished himself in the People's Republic of Kampuchea military ranks as a commander fighting Pol Pot Khmer Rouge guerrillas in northwest Cambodia and had then become Secretary of the RPPK Committee and chairman of the provincial administration for Battambang province.
[3] After King Norodom Sihanouk proclaimed a post-election interim coalition government of FUNCINPEC and the CPP on June 3, 1993, Sihanouk remained Uppermost High Commander of a multi-partite Cambodian Armed Forces proclaimed on June 10 but Ke Kim Yan was named chief of the armed forces Supreme General Staff in replacement of Pol Saroeun, and with deputies including general officers from both FUNCINPEC, Nhek Bunchhay, and the CPP, represented by Pol Saroeun.
In the early 1990s, despite financial difficulties and lack of human resources, he was in charge of the difficult mission of uniting the various rebel military movements such as those led by Nhek Bun Chhay and reintegrate them into the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
While it was believed that this resulted from an internal dispute within the Cambodian People's Party and others accused Ke Kim Yan of being caught in shady land deals,[18] the move was presented as an ordinary reshuffle within the military.
[citation needed] It has been said that General Ke Kim Yan was promoted to the position of Deputy Prime Minister, not only because of his proximity with Chea Sim, but more specifically due to his widespread support in the military.