SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MWAI KIBAKI, C.G.H., M.P., PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE ARMED FORCES RECRUITS PASSING OUT PARADE, ARMED FORCES RECRUITS TRAINING SCHOOL, ELDORET, 27TH MARCH, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to be here today to preside over this recruits passing out parade. I note that you have completed a rigorous training over the last seven months. This is, therefore an occasion of great pride not only for you and your families but also the nation. I congratulate you all for your hard work and dedication which has enabled you to successfully complete the training course.

From here, you will be posted to various Services and Units of the Armed Forces to begin your career of defending our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Your success in discharging this responsibility will depend on hard work, integrity, discipline and loyalty. I, therefore, urge you all to uphold these values as prescribed in the oath of allegiance that you have recited.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Apart from being the defenders of our territorial borders, you will be called upon to discharge civilian and humanitarian assignments from time to time. I urge you all to demonstrate the same standards of discipline and hard work in these engagements as in your core responsibility of providing security. I wish to point out, at this stage, that Kenyans appreciate the contribution that the Armed Forces continue to make to the development of the country, especially in utilizing their skills and assets to spearhead development projects all over our country.

As we overcome the challenges we face as a nation we will continue to seek the help of the military in our development endeavors. This will focus mainly in the areas of water provision through building of dams and boreholes, construction of rural access roads in the arid and semi-arid areas and forestation. This is in line with Kenya's VISION TWENTY THIRTY where provision of water to our people and opening up of roads especially in the arid and semi arid regions has been given priority.

I wish to record our appreciation for the role that the Armed Forces played in the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons who were affected during the post-election violence. I am happy to note that our military constructed 11 primary schools in the most affected areas of Nakuru and Trans Nzoia Districts. I also commend our Armed Forces for the role they played in the recent Molo Oil Tanker Disaster. The military pilots and medical team played a significant role in the search and rescue, evacuation and treatment of those affected during the disaster.

I urge our Armed Forces to uphold this tradition of civilian and humanitarian engagements in the interests of the well-being of our country. On its part, my Government will continue to support the Armed Forces in order to enable them meet the expectations of the Kenyan people. In this regard, it is noteworthy that in the last few years, my Government has allocated considerable resources to the Armed Forces for modernization of their infrastructure and improvement of their welfare, especially on accommodation and purchase of equipment. All these are aimed at creating a premier, credible and capable force deeply rooted in professionalism.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the international level, our Armed Forces have continued to play an important role in peace keeping missions. We have, for example, currently committed about 1000 officers, men and women of our Armed Forces, for a peacekeeping mission in Southern Sudan. Some of our soldiers are also serving as military observers and staff officers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Darfur region under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union. The continued participation of our military personnel in these missions reflects the confidence that the United Nations and the Africa Union have in our Armed Forces. The confidence and respect bestowed on our troops serving outside our country is true testimony of the high standard of our military training and professionalism.

In conclusion Ladies and Gentlemen, I call upon the soldiers passing out today to strive to acquire further knowledge and skills in order to be able to meet the challenges that lie ahead. In this regard, my Government will continue to provide the Armed Forces with the necessary resources for continuous education and skills enhancement.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate the Chief of the General Staff, service Commanders, the Commandant of this college, and indeed all members of the Armed Forces, for the proud services you have continued to render to our motherland.

With these remarks, I once again congratulate the graduands and wish you all the very best of good fortune as you commence your career in our Armed Forces.

Thank you and God bless you all.