NAIROBI– Defence Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale has emphasized that the forthcoming countrywide military recruitment shall be free, fair and above board for all qualified Kenyan youths including those from marginalized communities.
The CS said he has made it his undertaking to have the recruitment paint a national picture by having military officers and service members selected from across the country and cautioned parents not to give any money to secure the slots.
Hon. Duale made the remarks this evening when he appeared before the plenary session of the National Assembly at Parliament buildings, Nairobi.
Following a review of the Standing Orders of Parliament, it is an obligation of all Cabinet Secretaries to make occasional public appearances before the House to respond to questions relating to their respective dockets, as a measure of accountability. pic.twitter.com/JZ4IHVOjjG
— Hon. Aden Duale, EGH (@HonAdenDuale) August 9, 2023
The Cabinet Secretary attended the Parliamentary Session to respond to questions from Members of Parliament on a raft of issues pertaining to the programmes the Ministry had rolled out to c within its mandate across the country and beyond Kenya’s borders.
He affirmed that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is continuously adjusting its posture and strategy by establishing new military installations and strengthening the already existing ones with a view of easing the response to security incidents, enhancing deterrence capacity and creating conducive conditions for socio-economic development.
The CS informed the House of the continued commitment of the KDF to promote regional peace, security, stability and development that informs their active presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO).
Hon. Duale enumerated various milestones the Regional Force has realized in DRC among them being the bringing back of calm, repulsing the M23 militia and opening the Main Supply Routes (MSRs) and return of internally displaced persons to their homes.
He thanked the House for approving the Peace Support Operations (PSOs) Fund which shall transform Kenya’s capacity for diplomacy through greater contribution towards international peace and security.
In relation to compensation of soldiers injured in the line of duty, the CS reported that the KDF has a very robust compensation mechanism- Defence Forces Medical Insurance Scheme (DEFMIS)- which gives soldiers (both serving and retired) access world-class healthcare and compensation.