The Kenya Defense Forces on Thursday hosted best performing students from 13 counties, who are beneficiaries of Pupils Reward Scheme (PURES),
The PURES was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta early this year. Uhuru had ordered DoD to nurture students best practices.
Assistant Chief of Defence Forces Personnel and Logistics (ACDF P&L) Major General Fatuma Ahmed, welcomed the 52 students to the occasion on behalf of the ministry.
She briefly gave an overview of why MOD exists and informed the guests that, its main role is to provide societal service that is security, so that other important activities can be operational.
Maj Gen Ahmed encouraged the pupils to pay attention during the forum so as to learn more about the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
The first presentation was made by Colonel Bernard Waliaula, officer in charge of Strategic Planning and Policies, which captured functions and roles of MOD primarily formulation of policies.
He gave a brief history of KDF and also displayed the challenges and achievements made by MOD in its operations.
The second presentation was made by Colonel Joyce Sitienei, the Colonel Plans and Programmes at International Peace and Support Training College (IPSTC).
She also briefly made a presentation on Gender Policy, which was an interactive session with the students.
“Gender mainstreaming in the KDF ensures that our policies are sensitive and are tailor made to suit the needs of both genders in the service,” she said.
Major General Fatuma Ahmed said that KDF's greatest fear was failure in the delivery of our mandate which is to defend and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our republic, Kenya.
Thereafter the students were taken to Kenya Air Force (KAF) Headquarters in Eastleigh, Nairobi where they were introduced to the roles and functions of KAF by Major Peter Obare.
They also had an opportunity to learn about the various KAF squadrons. The pupils were treated to an aircraft experience aboard the Dash-8.
Colonel Joyce Sitienei on behalf of MOD appreciated the PURES project coordinator for choosing MOD as one of their places of visit. She said that they each had an equal role to play in the society and that she hoped to see them as future success stories.
Present during the event was Brigadier Kinuthia Chief of Planning and Policy, Lieutenant Colonel Wilson Yatich, PURES officials, Military Officers and other service personnel.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has paid his attention to KDF as he rushes to beat deadline in a bid to safeguard his legacy. He has shifted his focus to manufacturing and industrialization.
On Wednesday at Moi Baracks, Uhuru asked KDF to in the process of helping the country to achieve industrialization goals, adding that the move is fundamental in national development.