Keep off the military, Ruto tells politicians, media

President William Ruto has defended Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri against attacks over his warning against those chanting “Ruto must Go” at various forums, including in the Head of State’s presence.

Speaking when he presided over the Cadets Commissioning Parade at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru County, President Ruto, without mentioning General Kahariri by name, said that military men and women are the insurance of Kenya’s development, and therefore, Kenyans must be sensitive and keep off matters military in random talk.

”I want to urge all Kenyans, leaders, politicians, and journalists alike that our military men and women are the anchor for our stability. They are the insurance of our development, and therefore, we must be sensitive and keep off matters military in random talk,” Ruto said.

The President was firm that the government would defend the military “by all means possible” from being maligned.

Ruto remarks also came at a time the media has questioned a report by the Board of Inquiry that probed the helicopter crash former Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and other senior officers, which said it was as a result of engine malfunction.

General Kahariri last month received criticism over his call to Kenyans to use constitutional means to remove the President.

“Kenyans have the right to express their opinions, but this must be done in a manner that upholds peace and stability. As the military, our role is not political. We serve to defend the Constitution and support the government of the day,” Kahariri stated during a public lecture by National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji at the National Intelligence and Research University (NIRU) in Nairobi

“When people say they are tired of a government they freely elected and start demanding it ‘must go,’ they must understand that such change must be pursued through constitutional channels,” he added.

During the passing out parade, Ruto called for collective responsibility and action in the security and stability of the country.

The President said no amount of force, however formidable, can secure a nation on its own.

“True security is a shared duty, and every citizen is a stakeholder,” he said.

He noted that the government is modernising the Kenya Defence Forces and aligning their training to effectively respond to a rapidly evolving security landscape, shaped by unconventional threats, digital warfare, and transnational challenges.

“In response, we must modernise our forces, tailor our training, and innovate and update our doctrine,” he said.

The President pointed out that the military is re-focusing training methods, adopting cutting-edge technologies, and nurturing dynamic leaders capable of meeting complex security demands of the day.

He explained that the goal is to keep the military ahead of the curve and, therefore, safeguard national stability.

“Through these efforts, KDF remains a bulwark of peace and stability not only in Kenya, but also in the region and across Africa,” he added.

The graduating cadet cohort includes the first graduates with a Bachelor’s in Defence and Security Studies degree from the National Defence University-Kenya.

“This is a major milestone in our continued journey to align military training with modern academic rigour and strategic development goals,” he said.

These efforts to advance the military, he said, have ensured the country remains stable, creating a conducive environment that attracts investment and strengthens domestic and international confidence in the country.

“National prosperity rests upon the firm foundation of peace, good governance, and inclusive development. Our defence forces play a vital role in this,” he said.

President Ruto further noted that the officer cadet commissioned on Wednesday included officers from Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda.

“This is not just a testament to the excellence of the Kenya Military Academy, but also a symbol of our shared destiny and growing regional solidarity,” he said.

Earlier, the President commissioned Lanet Regional Hospital, a 150-bed facility providing a range of specialised services, including intensive care, renal dialysis, and cutting-edge surgery.

Healthcare staff at the hospital will include military and civilian personnel.

President Ruto also launched the Ulinzi Prime Health Services Fund, which will enable the civilian population to access the quality and specialised medical care at KDF medical facilities.

The fund is a National Government financial entity in the Ministry of Defence. It was approved by Cabinet on 3 October, 2023, and by the National Assembly on 6 December, 2023, under the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, to manage financial activities of the fund.

“These facilities will allow members of the defence community to access military referral hospitals through insurance schemes, including the Social Health Insurance Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund under the Social Health Authority,” he said.