President William Ruto presided over the passing out parade of more than 5,000 recruits at the Kenya Defence Forces Recruits Training School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on Thursday.
The President said the Government will keep investing in the welfare, training, and readiness of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to deal with emerging security threats.
“We will strengthen our capabilities in cybersecurity, intelligence, maritime security, and military medicine,” he said.
He reiterated that the Government will ensure that KDF members and their families are accorded the dignity and recognition they have earned and deserve.
Saying the battlefield continues to change, President Ruto pointed out that KDF must be prepared to deal with emerging threats occasioned by cyber crime, artificial intelligence, climate shocks, and new disease outbreaks, among others.
Additionally, the President commended the role KDF continues to play in peace missions in the region and beyond.
“Beyond our borders, our forces have carried Kenya’s flag in peace-support missions. Regional peace is not charity to our neighbours. It protects our citizens, our trade, and our future,” he said.
He explained that Kenya must keep building its own model of defence that contributes to national development, grounded in the Constitution and shaped by what the nation’s needs.
“An attack may target a server instead of a border post. A drone may fly without a pilot. Artificial intelligence may disrupt systems, distort information, and erode public trust,” he said.
He went on: “Climate shocks may displace communities and ignite competition over land and water. A disease outbreak may threaten more lives than an armed adversary.”
At the same time, President Ruto said the national conversation on the transformation of Kenya beyond 2030 that began on Wednesday must include the security that the country seeks to build.
He said security and development are not competing priorities, noting that security enables development, and development strengthens security.
“As we look beyond 2030, national security must extend beyond protecting our borders to securing our digital systems, critical infrastructure, food and energy systems, our territorial waters and the other pillars of a modern economy,” the President said.
Additionally, he pointed out that the military’s engineering department plays a critical role in supporting strategic infrastructure.
“Military logistics move people, equipment, and relief supplies when civilian systems are overwhelmed. Military medicine saves lives when disaster strikes,” he said.
Currently, KDF is supporting the construction of the Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City and the Bomas International Convention Complex.
“Through Kenya Shipyards Ltd and the Kenya Navy, we are rebuilding our shipbuilding capacity, with MV Uhuru II, built locally and now moving trade across Lake Victoria, shows how defence capability becomes an industrial one,” he said.
The President explained that through disaster response, medical outreach, and support to communities affected by insecurity, KDF has shown that service to Kenya takes many forms.
He congratulated the Recruits Cohort 01/2025 on completing a very demanding training course.
“Your training taught you to obey lawful commands. Your service must now teach you to exercise judgement under pressure, to lead, and to know the difference between lawful authority and abuse,” he said.
He told the recruits that the passing-out parade was just the beginning of a promising career in which their worth will be proven in their character, judgement, and professionalism.
“To the parents and guardians gathered here: You raised these young Kenyans, you supported them, and you have now entrusted them to the Republic. That is not a small thing. The nation is grateful,” President Ruto said.
He pointed out that the future soldier must not only be fit, disciplined, and tactically sound, but also technologically literate, intellectually curious, and constitutionally grounded.
“Your training taught you to obey lawful commands. Your service must now teach you to exercise judgement under pressure, to lead, and to know the difference between lawful authority and abuse,” he told the recruits.
Present were Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, Chief of Defence Forces Charles Kahariri and Uasin Gishu Governor Chelilim Bii, among others.
