Kenya has begun planning for its Centenary Celebrations, which will be held 38 years from now through events being spearheaded by the military.
The country, through the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), has organised a two-week programme dubbed Kenya@100 Capstone Training.
The first cohort of participants of about 50, who include military personnel and representatives from several government agencies, are at the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) at Karen, Nairobi, for the workshop.
Kenya will mark a Centennial milestone in 2063, in 38 years; a pivotal moment that calls for a pool of strategic leaders with foresight to shape its trajectory according to the military.
The two-week course is being hosted by the National Defence College (NDC) in conjunction with Serano Africa and the Centre for Strategic Studies (CSSS). The Kenya @100 Capstone Training will run from 15 September 2025 to 26 September 2025.
The attendees are being taken through a course themed, ‘High Performance Leadership, Strategic Governance and Sustainability in National Security,’ which began on Tuesday.
The course aims to reflect, recalibrate and reimagine the national trajectory from 1963-2063 with an end goal of enhancing strategic leadership for national security and development.
It also aims at strengthening governance, integrity and institutional transformation, integrating national security with economic prosperity and promoting sustainability both as a policy and business imperative in national security and prosperity aspirations.
Among those who are taking them through the vision include retired military chiefs, immediate former Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi, Lt General (Rtd) Daniel Opande, Lt General (Rtd) Lazarus Sumbeiyo, Lt General (Rtd) Humphrey Njoroge, among others.
Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o and former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana are listed among other high-profile trainers to grace the training.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya officially opened the training on Tuesday, where she commended the National Defence College (NDC) and other key partners for patronising this visionary initiative.
Further, she stated that the course participants form a strategic place in Kenya’s strategic history as they undertake the immense task of nation-building, which plays a key role in this course, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.
“The strategic history intervention is a convening of minds at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. This forum is designed to be a crucible where difficult questions are asked and a path for a way forward is carved,” she said.
Additionally, the CS stated that course participants should have the courage to answer the pertinent questions on matters related to security and development.
Tuya urged the course participants to think critically and forge a consensus that will take Kenya to the next level.
Deputy Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), Major General Stephen Mutuku who spoke on behalf of the Commandant of the National Defence College, Lt Gen Juma Mwinyikai, stated that Kenya@100 training is not just another leadership forum but a strategic convergence of minds, values and vision.
“This Capstone is a call to action. A moment to reaffirm our commitment to a secure, prosperous and resilient Kenya. We invite the nation to follow this journey, engage with the insights, and celebrate the leadership that will shape our next century,” he said.
Additionally, he stated that it will be a chance for the participants to explore the nexus between security and development and how sustainability must be embedded in every policy decision.
During the event, participants engaged in discussions which focused onto the theme, ‘Reflections on Kenya’s threat analysis in the context of national interests and balance of power’.
The discussion aimed at deepening threat analysis and scenarios, analysing Kenya’s security threats and discussing the strategic impact of Kenya’s national interests.
Further, the participants were apprised on ‘Statecraft, Strategic Governance and Design thinking’ which aimed at providing them with a foundational understanding of statecraft and modern governance principles; focusing on leadership, policymakers and the role of institutions in shaping societies.
