Remarks · 14 October 2023
• The Deputy President, • Cabinet Secretaries, • Chief of the Defence Forces, • General Officers, • Distinguished guests, • Valiant members of our Kenya Defence Forces, • Family and Friends;
I stand here with a tremendous sense of gratitude and admiration, as well as pride and joy, for the brilliant achievements, fine example and immense promise that our defence forces have provided and continue to demonstrate to our nation, region and the world, ever since Kenya became a Republic.
In a world that has entered a sustained period of unprecedented complexity and dynamism, with rapidly mutating threats and challenges, as well as complicated and demanding opportunities, our defence forces have played their part in establishing, maintaining and enhancing security and stability, which are the foundation on which progress rests, with excellence.
The performance of the economic engine of our nation reflects the confidence of investors, entrepreneurs and workers in the sustainability of national security and stability. Capital, both financial and human, thrive under stable and secure operational environments. Unstable and insecure places are poor and underdeveloped, whilst secure and stable ones are much more prosperous and advanced.
It is for this reason that we understand and appreciate the position of the Kenya Defence Forces as the foundational institution of our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. By executing their primary constitutional mandate of defending and protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic, as well as their responsibility to complement disaster and emergency response and the duty to restore peace in any part of the country experiencing unrest, the Defence Forces are the dependable guardians of our freedom, security and prosperity.
It is therefore quite encouraging that in performing their role, the Defence Forces exemplify the best Kenyan values and principles while at the same time defending them. In every operation throughout the country, our officers have inspired Kenyans of many generations with their professionalism, integrity, courage and honour, providing a much-cherished model to many generations of Kenyans with their value-based and purpose-driven work and life.
In so doing, our Defence Forces have accomplished much more than defence and security; they have crafted a fine legacy that transcends triumph and defines true patriotism, unity, perseverance, resilience and discipline. This legacy has been written in our hearts and minds and it is our duty and privilege to use every opportunity to express our individual and collective gratitude as citizens of Kenya.
On behalf of the people and government of Kenya, I stand here to thank you for your many noble sacrifices, silent labours of love, quiet heroism and unseen effort on our behalf. We know that many at times it is never easy, yet you nevertheless go forth bravely and get the job done, one way or another.
Standing on the secure foundation of numerous and magnificent achievements by past generations of brave and noble soldiers, we confidently survey a future that presents myriad threats and challenges that are not only different and more complex than any we have ever encountered, they also mutate at overwhelming rates. Our confidence is not because yesterday’s threats and challenges were simpler or easier. Rather, we are confident because our standards are high and we have been prepared for complexity and difficulty as a matter of principle and are now more prepared than ever before.
These standards apply consistently across our entire spectrum of services; that is why we are One Force, One Mission.
Kenya is a vibrant, pace-setting nation with an enterprising people whose pioneering spirit frequently takes them across our borders in pursuit of opportunities. We are good neighbours in our region and committed members of the international community. Just as we are committed to regional, PanAfrican and global economic integration, we are also invested in regional, continental and international peace and security.
The realities of the contemporary international environment compel us to take a deep interest in the dynamics of globalization. Consequently, we are increasingly able to see above and beyond our borders with clarity, because our many shared interests facilitate alignment of perspectives and define strategic complementarities. Our neighbourhood’s stability and development is our security and prosperity. Our continent’s peace and growth, is our safety and transformation.
Working together, therefore, is strategic commonsense at all levels. Solidarity, goodwill and good neighbourliness are components of the best security strategy. This understanding drives our spirit of peace-making, peace-building and peacekeeping, and the standards of performance, which have earned our defence forces respect locally and abroad.
Our involvement in peace initiatives beyond our borders has not only made Kenya a strong diplomatic, peace and security brand, they have also enhanced both our capacity and profile, while intensifying the momentum of our regional unity and integration efforts.
Since attaining independence, Kenya has matured into a modern, thriving, competitive and diverse economy, chiefly because it is a place of stability, peace and security, which guarantee an environment for democracy and freedom, innovation and enterprise while attracting investment from near and far.
Our region is a formidable melting pot of opportunity, while our continent is the young, green continent of the future. We have a duty to make our contribution to every effort to establish the necessary foundational conditions for industrial take-off and economic transformation, the most critical of which is security.
In that sense, the Kenya Defence Forces are guarantors of a prosperous future of opportunity, unity and prosperity at home, in our neighbourhood and abroad. It must continue to undertake and guarantee conflict resolution, knowledge-sharing, capacitybuilding and other joint projects to enable all countries in our region and continent to march forward into an abundant tomorrow with confidence and strength.
The achievements we celebrate today have, by no means, been easily achieved. This commanding vantage from which we project the inspiring prospect of an abundant future was reached through honest labour, difficult progress and patient struggle. The path to the present moment is paved with heroic sacrifices of the most selfless order.
Let us all therefore remember those who have fallen in the line of duty and honour the ultimate sacrifice they have made in the cause of humanity, solidarity, national sovereignty, peace and security. We must never take it for granted.
I convey our nation’s deepest gratitude to all our men and women in uniform for your service, which you have rendered and continue to perform with valour and integrity.
I also convey appreciation to your families, whose support in many different ways, has encouraged, strengthened and inspired you to do your best every day. Their silent strength is a powerful contribution to our national security, which must never be underestimated.
I also thank the almighty God to whom we submit our struggle and endeavour, for the honour of leading our Defence Forces and Commander-In-Chief, and for the privilege of being a citizen of Kenya, enjoying the fruit of their service and sacrifice, which provides us with the opportunity to unlock opportunity for all. We shall complement the security assured by your effort, with shared prosperity arising from an economy in take-off.
Let us therefore stand together, and stride into the future with the confidence that we reinforce each other to do the best and take Kenya forward. I wish you all a happy KDF Day. Thank you. God bless you. God bless Kenya.