- Most of the KDF officers who have trained in the institutions get recognition within the ranks.
- On Wednesday, a section of mid-level command officers graduated from the Joint Command Training College in Karen.
Image: KDF
The Ministry of Defence has announced plans to renovate and revamp military leadership institutions to continue attracting soldiers from allied countries for joint training.
Principal Secretary Peter Mariru said the state was considering investing in modernising and expanding the leadership and command training institutions for the military, a move that will posture the country’s military as dynamic and leading in the region.
Currently, military education institutions like the National Defence University and its constituent institutions continue to attract senior officers from allied countries in the region and globally for joint learning with KDF.
Most of the KDF officers who have trained in the institutions get recognition within the ranks, including promotions and senior command duties. The current Chief of Defence Forces and all his predecessors are alumni of the institutions.
“Expansion and modernisation of the training institutions is a strategic priority for the ministry to attend to the growing demand from the country, regionally and abroad so that our military’s strategic leadership is sustained,” Mariru said.
He did not specify if there is a budget line that has been created for the same or any concrete plans for it on the table.
In the past few weeks, the institutions have seen graduation of senior officers after period of learning of select courses. Senior officers from allied nations have been part of the cohorts.
On Wednesday, a section of mid-level command officers graduated from the Joint Command Training College in Karen, with PS Mariru officiating. They had spent the last one year studying senior joint command course 38 of 2022-23.
The congregation heard that 80 per cent of Kenyan soldiers taking part in the studies had already been promoted in rank in the recent promotions, to the rank of lieutenant colonel or full colonel.
A total of 61 officers graduated out of which nine were female. Some 43 officers were Kenyan while 18 were from 14 allied countries. The foreign countries included Nepal, Egypt, Malawi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
The Wednesday graduation came barely days after President William Ruto officiated the graduation of senior officers who had spent one year studying leadership course 25 of 2022-23 at the National Defence College.
The course was open to civilians in civil service who are in senior positions and who can be deployed to even more strategic and senior roles.
A total of 70 officers and civil servants graduated, with 53 being Kenyan and the rest coming from allied countries. The foreign countries included India, Burundi, Botswana, Egypt, Nepal, Ethiopia, Malawa and Bangladesh.
At the Wednesday fete, the PS lauded the KDF for mainstreaming gender in its granting training and leadership opportunities noting that women soldiers continue to be given opportunity.
He also urged the trained officers to have a broadened view on security threats the country face saying that they are multifaceted and transnational.
Image: KDF