President Uhuru Kenyatta, for the better part of Friday, November 26, was locked in a crisis meeting with top Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers at the little-known School of Combat Engineering in Samburu County.
Other security officers reportedly in attendance were the Defence Cabinet Secretary, Eugene Wamalwa, his Interior counterpart Fred Matiang’i, the head of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Maj. (Rtd) Philip Kameru and Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai.
An insider privy to the meeting told Kenyans.co.ke that the Head of State was angered by the state of the security in Kenya and read a riot act at the security chiefs. He then reportedly asked them to review the situation prior to meeting him again on Saturday, November 27 and Sunday, November 28.
“The President was concerned about the ongoing crisis in Ethiopia where there is a civil war and Uganda which has witnessed a spate of militia attacks.
“He was aggrieved by the influx of refugees entering Kenya from Ethiopia and wondered why there were no water-tight controls at the border. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was irked by the border patrol not controlling the mass movement and accused them of not screening the refugees,” the insider detailed.
Uhuru was reported to be consulting the security chiefs on the possibility of the military taking over border operations in order to control the mass movement and coordinate security activities in the country ahead of the 2022 General Election.
The intel was presented to Uhuru by the Presidential Daily Brief (PDB) team, spread across the country and abroad.
PDB advises Uhuru on the issues that require topmost priority. The identified issues are then pushed to the National Security Council (NSC) for consideration.
The meeting came a few hours after Uhuru presided over the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Cadets Commissioning Parade at Lanet, Nakuru County on Friday, November 26.
While addressing the cadet, Uhuru stated that the country expects nothing less from them than loyalty, devotion, honour and strict adherence to all applicable laws, regulations and order.
“Kenyans have bestowed their trust in the Kenya Defence Forces at a time when global threats are on the rise. It is therefore clear that Kenyans expectations are that all KDF personnel serve in a manner consistent with the Oath of Allegiance
"You are joining the defence forces at a unique time when threats to our sovereignty, our way of life are bound from traditional actors. In response to this, we have ensured that KDF has undergone a consequential transformation,” Uhuru stated in reference to the Somali-Kenya border row.
The Head of State is excepted to undertake more military engagements in the next coming weeks. On November 29, he will preside over a passing out parade of 2,610 recruits at the National Police College Campus A in Embakasi, Nairobi.
On December 8, the Head of State will preside over the pass out parade for the General Service Unit (GSU) at the National Police College Campus B in Embakasi.
In between, on Tuesday, November 30, will address the nation on his second-last State of Nation Address in a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament.
School of Combat Engineering - Samburu
This military camp is located in the Samburu Military Training Area (MTA). Military personnel at the school engage in both Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) and combat training.
CIMIC activities are carried alongside a Command Post Exercise (CPX) conducted by the troops. Command Post Exercise is a training exercise aimed at improving and maintaining proficiency and combat readiness of the troops to carry out their mandate of defending the republic from land-based aggression.
