Kenya Air Force (KAF) officially launched three welfare centres during the KAF Family Open Day, on Saturday, 9th June, 2018 at Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
The welfare centres are located at Moi Air Base (MAB) Eastleigh, Laikipia Air Base (LAB) Nanyuki and Wajir Base.
The KAF Family Open Day will be dedicated to widows, widowers and orphans of KAF deceased personnel, who will be informed on the establishment of KAF Welfare Centres and their functions, every year on the Saturday that follows the KAF Day on 4th June.
The day will acknowledge the significant contribution, support and sacrifices of serving personnel families and those who lost their loved ones in the service to our Nation.
It will extend the military’a heartfelt gratitude, promote a sense of belonging and allow interaction as they access information on the new policy on KDF widows, widowers, orphans and dependants.
The event kicked off with presentations from Moi Forces Academy and Moi Air Base Primary Schools, a play from the KAF Theater Troupe, a video clip explaining what exactly the KAF Family Open Day is all about, and motivational speeches from widows, Mrs Jamila Letia and Mrs Caroline Muriuki, Mr Mohamud Ali a widower, Captain Sally Sabala from KAF who is a pilot instructor and Fred Muli a motivational speaker.
The Cabinet Secretary of Defence Ambassador Raychelle Omamo, said the Defence Council's duty is to ensure the families and members affected are provided with support, knowledge, empowerment, compassion, support and mentorship, as we all must be united and act as a family.
The CS said that KDF will continue to follow up on all issues that affect the military and asked for understanding from the country as their pain cannot be understood by those not affected.
“We pray for the families and orphans who are with us and those who couldn’t make it, the families in the battlefield, those injured, and we pray for strength for the soldiers' families who have recently lost their loved ones,” she noted.
Amb. Omamo thanked the KAF Commander for spearheading the move and urged others to follow, as the Defence Council will remain committed and ensure the policy is implemented fully and develop guidelines to ensure the families are assisted.
"The Defence Council has promulgated this welfare policy directed towards the families and dependants as the policy will provide an operating framework (OPF) for the administration of widows and orphans of the service personnel. The policy is administered by the welfare centres," concluded the CS.
The Commander Kenya Air Force Major General Samuel Thuita, recognised the KAF spouses and children for their supportive role and continued commitment to the readiness of the wellbeing military personnel as it cannot be over emphasized.
Major General Thuita said the challenges faced by KAF's deceased personnel spouses and orphans, made the Defence Council to direct establishment of welfare centres across KDF Formations, Bases and Units.
The welfare centres are the point of contact for all families of serving, retired and deceased personnel and shall provide cross service support to widows, orphans and dependents.
“The Centres are responsible for the welfare of the serving and retired personnel as well as their families and dependants of the deceased families," he said.
In attendance were the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Operations, Doctrine and Training Major General Adan Mulata, Deputy KAF Commander Brigadier Francis Ogolla, Defence Forces Medical Insurance Scheme Managing Director Brigadier Fatumah Ahmed, the Base Commander MAB Brigadier Mohamed Badi, among other Senior Military Offices, Service Members, widows, widowers and orphans of KAF families.