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President Kibaki present a shield to Junior Under Officer Catherine Kagendi Ngaine/PPS

Kenya

Kibaki urges vigilance, support to security forces

President Kibaki present a shield to Junior Under Officer Catherine Kagendi Ngaine/PPS

NAKURU, Kenya, May 23 – President Mwai Kibaki has urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and supplement the good work of the country’s security forces by volunteering information on security threats.

On its part, President Kibaki said, the government will intensify border surveillance and scale up the operations of all homeland security agents to deal with any security threats to the country.

“This way, we shall be able to successfully contain any security threats,” President Kibaki said.

The Head of State was speaking on Wednesday at the Kenya Military Academy at Lanet, Nakuru during the commissioning of cadet officers.

On regional security, President Kibaki noted that the commissioned officers were joining the defence forces at a time when the nation faced security threats posed by insurgents operating from Somalia.

The President pointed out that the government launched the ‘Operation Linda Nchi’ mandating the country’s defence forces to pursue insurgents into Somali territory so as to protect the country’s peace and national security.

“I congratulate our defence forces for successfully executing the operation Linda Nchi. Indeed, Kenyans are proud of the joint efforts by the Kenya Defence Forces, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and AMISOM. These efforts have resulted in the restoration of peace and stability in large parts of Somalia.”

Noting that Kenyan forces are now part of the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the Head of State appealed to the international community to work closely with AMISOM to ensure that the remaining parts of Somalia were secured.

He underscored that Kenya looked forward to the voluntary repatriation of the thousands of Somali refugees currently in living various camps within the country.

President Kibaki, at the same time, emphasised that the process of reconstructing Somalia by building schools, hospitals and opening up the country must begin in earnest.

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“Those returning to their country after nearly 20 years in refugee camps will be part of that reconstruction process that Kenya stands to fully support,” President Kibaki said.

The Head of State, once again, appealed to the people of Somalia to build on the successes made so far to stabilise their country to enable them enjoy the full peace dividend.

Expressing concern over the developments in the Sudan and South Sudan, President Kibaki urged the two countries to give dialogue a chance.

He said as the guarantor of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Kenya supported the speedy resolution to all outstanding issues in the Sudan and South Sudan conflict.

The President asserted, “Peace and stability in Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia remain critical to the prosperity of our region. In this regard, our Armed Forces are part of the activities of the East African Standby Brigade with a view to building capacity in conflict pre-emption and management.”

President Kibaki reiterated that Kenya remained ready to be involved in security initiatives that facilitate peace and stability within the country and in the region.

He also affirmed that Kenya would continue with various military assignments whenever called upon to be part of international peace keeping missions.

“I congratulate our security forces for the high level of discipline and professionalism whenever called upon to be part of these missions,”
President Kibaki said.

Commending the commissioned cadet officers, the President observed that their hard work, dedication and endurance successfully made them finish the twenty months of vigorous training.

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He, therefore, urged the newly commissioned officers to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors by upholding high levels of professionalism, discipline and loyalty to the Government and people of Kenya.

“I urge you to uphold this proud tradition wherever you will be deployed to render national service,” President Kibaki said.

Speaking during the occasion, the Kenya Military Academy Commandant Brigadier S. W. Nandwa said the 20 months training the newly commissioned officer cadets had undergone prepared them to be leaders in the military.

The ceremony was also attended by Defence Minister Mohammed Yusuf Haji, Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces General Julius Karangi and the acting Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia among other senior Government and military officials.

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