President Mwai Kibaki has challenged the armed forces to embrace information communication technology to tackle new security challenges.
He said the officers were expected to be conversant with ICT and other areas of concern in the military field through continuous training.
“Indeed, all sectors of our lives are being changed rapidly by the continuous explosion in knowledge and we must embrace the culture of constant learning in order to keep pace with new developments,” the Head of State said.
Integrity
The President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, praised the military for safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity as well as their humanitarian and other activities that have accelerated development.
The activities had improved the lives of rural communities. He cited the officer’s active role in the resettlement of people displaced from their homes in post-election violence early in the year.
Addressing a cadets commissioning parade at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru, President Kibaki also praised the collaboration between public universities and armed forces in providing continuous upgrade of skills for officers.
Some 113 cadets graduated.
He urged officers to take advantage of such opportunities to advance their academic standards and ensure career progression.
President Kibaki praised the high integrity that the country’s military personnel continue to portray especially in United Nations Peace Keeping Missions in Southern/Western Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Côte d’Ivoire, Western Sahara, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Kosovo.
Defence minister Yussuf Haji and Chief of General Staff Jeremiah Kianga were at the parade.
The military provided transport to over 8,000 internally displaced people who were moved to their homes in Molo, Cherangany and Trans Nzoia following the post-election chaos early this year.
The cadets who graduated underwent over 20 months of training through a collaboration with Egerton University and acquired diplomas in Military Science.
They will take up their new roles in the military in the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Daily Nation
