President William Ruto has shared insights on a two-month dialogue with military leaders following guidance from former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Speaking at the Kenya Navy 60th Anniversary event at the Kenya Navy Base in Mtongwe, Mombasa County, yesterday, Ruto disclosed that Uhuru offered him one key piece of advice prior to transferring power.
He clarified that the advice focused on modernizing the nation’s security forces, including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), to enhance their effectiveness.
The Head of State elaborated that over the past two months, he engaged with senior KDF officials, including Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, to discuss ways to enhance military capabilities.
“There is only one piece of advice I received from the commander in chief who preceded me, and he urged me that when resources become available, to modernize our security agencies,” Ruto stated.
“Thus, the discussions I have had with the leadership of the Ministry of Defence are progressing, as future development will rely on peace, security, and stability; without these, all other national efforts will be at risk,” he continued.
The president indicated that a primary goal of modernizing the military is to establish a high state of readiness, allowing military personnel to respond quickly and effectively to security threats.
He also praised former military personnel for their dedication, vision, and effort, acknowledging that their contributions have led to the current successes within the KDF.
In his address, Ruto urged KDF officers to persist in their commitment to uphold the utmost standards of professionalism, integrity, and excellence.
