Category: English

Source: APO

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has reaffirmed its commitment to the holistic welfare of Service personnel through the official opening and dedication of the newly constructed Karare Barracks Mosque, providing a dedicated place of worship to strengthen spiritual well-being, moral discipline and military cohesion.

The ceremony, held on 16 October 2026, was presided over by the Director of the Directorate of Oversight, Compliance and Accountability (DOCA), Major General Mohamed Isak Iddi, and marked a significant milestone in promoting religious inclusivity and spiritual resilience within the military community.

Completed within four months following the commencement of construction on 6 June 2026, the mosque was officially unveiled during a ceremony featuring inaugural Friday (Juma’ah) prayers and commemorative tree planting. The introduction of Muslim and Christian faith representatives further underscored the KDF’s commitment to religious tolerance, mutual respect and unity.

Addressing the gathering, Major General Iddi conveyed greetings from the Chief of the Defence Forces, General Charles Kahariri, and expressed appreciation to the donor for supporting the project. He urged personnel to uphold strong moral values, foster unity through prayer and ensure proper maintenance of the facility for future generations.

Colonel David Waigwa, representing the Commander 8 Brigade, highlighted the mosque’s significance in serving both military personnel and the surrounding community, strengthening civil-military relations. Brigadier Ismael Aule encouraged troops to embrace the facility as a centre for spiritual growth, while Brigadier Dida commended the construction team and contractor for delivering the project.

The new mosque represents a significant investment in the spiritual welfare of Service personnel, recognising the vital role of faith in nurturing discipline, resilience, integrity and a strong sense of duty.

Beyond providing a place of worship, the facility reinforces the KDF’s soldier-centric approach to welfare, fostering spiritual strength, religious harmony and institutional cohesion essential to a disciplined, resilient and mission-ready force.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

Spiritual well-being is an essential pillar of personnel welfare, fostering resilience, moral strength and cohesion within the military community. By providing an enabling environment for religious practice, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) continues to nurture the spiritual needs of service personnel and their families, recognising the importance of faith in sustaining personal well-being and commitment to duty.

This focus on holistic personnel welfare was underscored during the foundation-laying ceremony for the Lieutenant Colonel Kimaro Estate Mosque, presided over by the Commander Kenya Navy Fleet, Brigadier Mohamed Shemote.

The ceremony brought together Formation Commanders, Principal Staff Officers, Senior Officers, Officers, Service Members and their families, marking a significant milestone in expanding religious facilities and strengthening spiritual fellowship within the military community.

Addressing the gathering, Brigadier Shemote expressed gratitude to Allah Almighty for the occasion, emphasising the importance of dedicated places of worship in promoting spiritual growth, moral guidance and unity among service personnel.

He commended the Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), General Charles Kahariri, for his leadership and commitment to personnel welfare, noting that the initiative reflects the KDF’s resolve to accommodate the diverse religious needs of its personnel and their families.

Brigadier Shemote further lauded the Commander Kenya Navy, Major General Paul Otieno, for his commitment to implementing the CDF’s directive and advancing welfare projects that translate strategic leadership priorities into tangible benefits for service personnel.

The Principal Imam, Colonel Abdumalik Rubeya, expressed appreciation to well-wishers and donors supporting the project, calling for sustained collaboration to ensure its successful completion.

Upon completion, the mosque will provide Muslim service personnel and their families with a dedicated environment for congregational prayers, spiritual reflection and religious fellowship, further strengthening communal bonds and a sense of belonging.

The project underscores the KDF’s commitment to holistic personnel welfare, recognising that spiritual fulfilment, family well-being and institutional cohesion contribute to a resilient, disciplined and mission-ready force.

By investing in facilities that nurture faith and strengthen the military community, the KDF continues to reinforce the human foundations of military effectiveness while upholding its constitutional mandate of safeguarding Kenya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

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Young digital creators from across the North Rift converged in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, for The Creator Journey, a transformative initiative designed to equip creators with the skills, networks and opportunities needed to thrive in Kenya’s rapidly growing digital economy.

Held under the theme “Create. Learn. Earn.”, the event brought together aspiring and established creators, industry experts, government representatives, regulators, mobile network operators and digital platforms for a day of learning, collaboration and engagement on the future of the creator economy.

Hosted in partnership with Elgeyo Marakwet County Goverment and Make It Count Digital, the summit shifted the spotlight directly onto local creative talent. Industry leaders and successful creators shared practical insights on content creation, personal branding, audience growth and monetization, demonstrating how creativity can be transformed into sustainable livelihoods.

Emphasizing the role of digital infrastructure in unlocking opportunities for the creative economy, Principal Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy John Tanui noted that access to digital opportunities should not be determined by geography. “A creator in Iten should be able to earn from the same platforms as a creator in Nairobi, and that depends on connectivity reaching rural Kenya,” he said.

Discussions highlighted the growing role of digital platforms in creating new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, particularly among young people.

A key highlight was the Wayleave Conversation, which brought together government agencies, regulators, mobile network operators and digital platforms to explore coordinated approvals and infrastructure sharing as a means of accelerating connectivity and extending quality networks to underserved areas.

As The Creator Journey continues to reach communities across the country, it aims to help build a new generation of digital entrepreneurs equipped to create, learn and earn in an increasingly connected world.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MICDE), Kenya.

Source: APO

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Discipline, professional excellence and effective leadership remain the bedrock of a capable, cohesive and mission-ready military force. These values shape the character of service members, strengthen operational effectiveness and sustain the Kenya Defence Forces’ (KDF) capacity to respond decisively to evolving security challenges.

The Defence Forces Sergeant Major (DFSM), Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Bwana Haji Omar, recently reinforced these principles during a series of engagements with service members at the Kenya Naval Training College and 15 Kenya Rifles in Mariakani respectively.

Addressing newly recruited service members at the Kenya Naval Training College, the DFSM underscored the importance of instilling military values from the earliest stages of training. He challenged the Privates Under Training (PUTs) to embrace discipline, integrity, teamwork, resilience and respect for the chain of command as essential foundations of military service.

He emphasised that professionalism, personal accountability and unwavering commitment to duty are critical to developing dependable service members capable of operating effectively under demanding conditions.

At 15 Kenya Rifles in Mariakani, WO1 Bwana Haji engaged Kenya Navy personnel undertaking Senior and Junior Leadership Courses, highlighting the central role of effective leadership, discipline and accountability in strengthening command effectiveness and operational performance.

He urged the course participants to lead by example, uphold military standards and exercise responsibility in their respective appointments, emphasising that credible leadership is anchored in personal conduct, professional competence and the ability to inspire confidence among subordinates.

The engagements underscored the KDF’s sustained focus on mentorship, character development and progressive leadership training as essential pillars of force development.

By nurturing disciplined personnel and developing competent leaders at every level, the KDF continues to strengthen institutional cohesion, operational readiness and its ability to safeguard Kenya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

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Evolving regional security dynamics and emerging transnational threats continue to underscore the importance of collective security, enhanced interoperability and coordinated responses among East African Community (EAC) Partner States.

In a demonstration of this commitment, delegates from EAC Partner States convened in Kisumu for a week-long Initial Planning Conference (IPC) and Main Planning Conference (MPC) for Ushirikiano Imara 2027 multinational and multisectoral Field Training Exercise (FTX), scheduled for March 2027. The conferences focused on strengthening joint operational preparedness and harmonising plans for the forthcoming regional exercise.

Chief Guest Major General William Kamoiro, represented by Brigadier Michael George Simbili, underscored the importance of the conferences in strengthening cooperation among EAC Partner States. He noted that the outcomes of the deliberations would provide a foundation for the realistic and effective execution of the exercise.

“The resultant products from these two conferences remain key to influencing the realistic execution of the exercise,” he said.

Representing the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Stephen Patrick Mbundi, Uganda’s Defence Liaison Officer, Brigadier General Matthew Gureme, emphasised that the conferences will advance regional cooperation in joint planning and the conduct of peace support operations, enabling Partner States to respond more effectively to shared security requirements.

Conference Chairperson Brigadier General Emmanuel Kazahura commended the cooperation demonstrated by military and civilian participants, noting that civilian involvement was critical to effective civil-military coordination, especially in restoration of normalcy among affected communities during peace support operations.

He urged delegates to follow exercise guidelines and translate planning outcomes into practical training objectives.

Chief of Training Defence Headquarters Brigadier Alex Nteere led a Kenya delegation for a meeting with the Kisumu County leadership, where plans to identify civil-military cooperation activities were initiated.

The delegates visited proposed FTX deployment sites across Kisumu County and assessed their suitability for the planned activities.

The two conferences mark a key milestone in preparations for the regional exercise, which aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen collective responses to shared security requirements. Key areas of focus included, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Piracy and Disaster Management, with emphasis on joint planning, information sharing and interoperability among participating military, police and civilian components.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is advancing efforts to strengthen the welfare, dignity and economic empowerment of military veterans through the development of a comprehensive policy framework aimed at improving access to benefits, essential services and post-service support.

A committee tasked with developing the Military Veterans Policy, led by the Chief of Compensation and Welfare at Defence Headquarters, Brigadier Rhodah Mwasigwa, paid a courtesy call on the Commander Kenya Navy, Major General Paul Otieno, at Kenya Navy Headquarters to seek his strategic guidance and input on the draft policy.

The initiative builds on the enactment of the Military Veterans Act No. 18 of 2022 and the approval of the Military Veterans Regulations in 2025, which established a legal and institutional foundation for the administration of veterans’ affairs. The proposed policy seeks to address existing administrative and operational gaps, strengthen institutional coordination and enhance the efficiency and accessibility of veterans’ services.

Constituted on 22 July 2026, the committee is developing a policy framework prioritising equitable access to benefits, economic empowerment opportunities and decentralised service delivery at the county level. These measures are intended to improve service accessibility, streamline administrative processes and establish sustainable mechanisms for supporting veterans and their welfare needs.

The engagement underscored the importance of leadership consultation in developing responsive, practical and sustainable policies that address the evolving needs of the military veteran community.

The policy development initiative represents a significant step towards a more inclusive, coordinated and veteran-centred welfare system, reaffirming the KDF’s enduring responsibility to those who have served the nation with honour, dedication and sacrifice.

By strengthening post-service support, the KDF continues to reinforce the principle that the nation’s obligation to its military personnel extends beyond active service, safeguarding their dignity, welfare and well-being long after they leave uniform.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) continues to strengthen its bond with local communities through compassionate outreach initiatives that inspire hope, promote social inclusion and reinforce the enduring relationship between the military and the people it serves.

As part of KDF Day commemorations, personnel from 88 Artillery Battalion and the School of Artillery at Kampi ya Chumvi visited Wazo Huru Primary School, also known as Idéal Libre (Free Mind), in a gesture of solidarity and support for vulnerable learners.

The school provides education and care to hundreds of children from disadvantaged backgrounds, supported by 56 teaching and non-teaching staff, including teachers, psychologists and other support personnel. It also operates a branch at Ngaremara offering boarding facilities for learners with special needs.

Beyond academic development, the institution nurtures talent through art, music, athletics and chess, with some learners achieving national recognition despite financial and other socioeconomic challenges.

Welcoming the delegation, the School Director, Mrs Mary Akuwam, expressed appreciation for the KDF’s continued support, particularly during rainy seasons when poor road conditions disrupt access to essential services. She noted that the engagement provided encouragement and renewed hope to learners facing difficult circumstances.

The visit featured vibrant cultural performances, with pupils entertaining the service personnel through traditional dances and songs, creating an atmosphere of friendship, appreciation and shared community spirit.

Leading the delegation, Major Wekesa reaffirmed the KDF’s commitment to meaningful community engagement, emphasising the importance of supporting vulnerable learners, nurturing their aspirations and strengthening civil-military relations.

The outreach reflected the deeper significance of KDF Day as an occasion not only to honour military service and sacrifice but also to demonstrate compassion, solidarity and responsibility towards the communities the Defence Forces are mandated to protect.

Through such engagements, the KDF continues to foster public trust, strengthen community partnerships and affirm that service to the nation extends beyond safeguarding its borders to positively impacting the lives of its people.

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) continues to strengthen its bond with local communities through compassionate outreach initiatives that inspire hope, promote social inclusion and reinforce the enduring relationship between the military and the people it serves.

As part of KDF Day commemorations, personnel from 88 Artillery Battalion and the School of Artillery at Kampi ya Chumvi visited Wazo Huru Primary School, also known as Idéal Libre (Free Mind), in a gesture of solidarity and support for vulnerable learners.

The school provides education and care to hundreds of children from disadvantaged backgrounds, supported by 56 teaching and non-teaching staff, including teachers, psychologists and other support personnel. It also operates a branch at Ngaremara offering boarding facilities for learners with special needs.

Beyond academic development, the institution nurtures talent through art, music, athletics and chess, with some learners achieving national recognition despite financial and other socioeconomic challenges.

Welcoming the delegation, the School Director, Mrs Mary Akuwam, expressed appreciation for the KDF’s continued support, particularly during rainy seasons when poor road conditions disrupt access to essential services. She noted that the engagement provided encouragement and renewed hope to learners facing difficult circumstances.

The visit featured vibrant cultural performances, with pupils entertaining the service personnel through traditional dances and songs, creating an atmosphere of friendship, appreciation and shared community spirit.

Leading the delegation, Major Wekesa reaffirmed the KDF’s commitment to meaningful community engagement, emphasising the importance of supporting vulnerable learners, nurturing their aspirations and strengthening civil-military relations.

The outreach reflected the deeper significance of KDF Day as an occasion not only to honour military service and sacrifice but also to demonstrate compassion, solidarity and responsibility towards the communities the Defence Forces are mandated to protect.

Through such engagements, the KDF continues to foster public trust, strengthen community partnerships and affirm that service to the nation extends beyond safeguarding its borders to positively impacting the lives of its people.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.