As pressure builds from the public regarding the state of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), including growing concerns about old and broken equipment, President William Ruto has finally spoken out.
He firmly warned Kenyans to stay away from making negative remarks about military matters.
While addressing the nation during a Cadets Commissioning Parade at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru, Ruto strongly defended the military.
His comments appeared to be directed at those questioning General Charles Kahariri, the Chief of Defence Forces, following his recent statements about the presidency and the importance of constitutional order.
The President also seemed to be responding to a series of media reports that had highlighted the poor state of military helicopters and aircraft, suggesting that the KDF is operating with outdated and barely functional machines.
President Ruto made it clear that he will not tolerate any form of public mockery or criticism of the military.
He emphasized that he would stand by the KDF and protect them because of the critical role they play in safeguarding Kenya’s borders and national security.
“I want to appeal to all Kenyans—including leaders, politicians, and media professionals—to be cautious when talking about our military.
These men and women are the backbone of our nation’s peace and security. They are the insurance of our growth as a country.
We must avoid speaking carelessly about military matters in casual conversations,” Ruto said.
He further added, “As the Commander-in-Chief, I want to assure everyone that my government will defend our military using all possible means.
They are the ones who ensure our country remains stable and continues to develop.”
General Kahariri had faced strong public criticism after comments he made on March 27 while speaking at the National Intelligence and Research University in Nairobi.
During a lecture hosted by National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji, Kahariri emphasized the importance of following the Constitution when it comes to matters of power transition.
He warned that failing to observe constitutional procedures could lead the country into chaos and instability.
“We cannot allow anarchy. Even though people have rights, those rights must be exercised responsibly. We should not allow a situation where our actions cause the country to fall apart,” Kahariri said.
He added, “As the military, our duty is to defend the Constitution and the legitimate government that has been elected by the people.
So if some citizens feel frustrated with the current government and begin shouting ‘Must Go!’, they must remember that any such change must follow the Constitution.”
This came amid reports published by The Standard newspaper on Wednesday, which exposed the troubling state of the military’s aircraft fleet.
According to the report, KDF had obtained over 130 aircraft through the years, but only 27 of them are currently operational.
The rest have either crashed, become too old, or suffer from poor maintenance.
The report painted a concerning picture, saying, “Many of the aircraft are now outdated and frequently break down.
What’s more alarming is how resources are being used—out of the 19 aircraft available to the Kenya Air Force (KAF), only seven are used for actual security missions.
The remaining 12 are mainly used to transport Very Very Important Persons (VVIPs), raising serious questions about the government’s priorities.”
The growing criticism, both from the public and the media, has clearly sparked a strong reaction from the President, who insists that the military must be respected and protected, not dragged into political or public disputes.
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