President Uhuru Kenyatta has commended female Kenya Defense Forces recruits in the 2016 class.
He was speaking Monday at the Recruit Training School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu during a pass-out parade for soldiers, who have been on a seven-month military training programme.
The president who was accompanied by Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo, Chief of Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Alex Tolgos lauded Irene Kaleka of Kenya Army (KA) for emerging the best recruit.
"The number of female recruits is a manifestation of our nation's commitment to offering equal opportunities to all sections of our population," said the president.
The commander in chief said he's proud of the high standards that have been the honour of the defence forces noting that they have played a major role in UN peace missions across Africa, Europe and Asia.
He attributed the professionalism, confidence, patriotism and the success of KDF to the high standards of training offered to the gallant soldiers who have won global admiration.
"You have been selected to take the solemn oath of protecting the nation. Never betray the trust that fellow citizens have in you. You individually and collectively must be beyond reproach," he told the recruits.
He asked the soldiers to maintain discipline and be loyal to both their superiors and peers.