The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is seeking to be granted approval to establish its own independent university.
Defence CS Monica Juma, while appearing before MPs in early November 2020, requested the legislators to amend the Education Act to allow the ministry to proceed with the plan.
The National Defence University of Kenya (NDU-K) will teach and certify officers from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), KDF and security personnel from other African countries.
Juma stated that the move will cut costs for KDF who spend a lot of money certifying and accrediting specialised officers in public universities.
"The KDF and NIS operate colleges for its personnel to enable them to deliver on responsibilities. Some colleges, however, offer courses not certified by the institutions," Juma defended her proposal.
KDF officers are trained under the National Defence College, Kenya (NDC). The training facility offers courses to senior commanders in the army, navy, air force and special forces.
Training is also availed to senior Kenyan civil servants and senior military officers from African countries and other continents.
If approved, the new university will comprise of affiliate colleges from KDF and NIS.
MPs however questioned Juma's plan, arguing that KDF had not proven to have qualified personnel and infrastructure to have a university absorb affiliate colleges.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has numerous times praised the military for their dedication, sacrifice and support to civilian authority. He lauded them for managing crises and offering problem-solving solutions to various issues in Kenya.
He created the Nairobi Metropolitan Services to manage Nairobi County based on the military's record for discipline and administration.
Kenya's military was ranked as the 12th most powerful military in Africa according to the annual Global Fire Power report for 2020 released on June 16. Globally, KDF was ranked 84 out of the 138 modern militaries ranked according to their capabilities.
