An elaborate military farewell ceremony for outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya will take place at Ulinzi Sports Complex this morning, followed by a symbolic escort out of the Defence headquarters as the Kenya Defence Forces bid goodbye to their commander in chief for the last 10 years.
The two-part event will be the second last of President Kenyatta’s constitutional mandates as his term draws to an end on Tuesday when he shall hand over the reins of power to Dr William Ruto.
The outgoing president will inspect his final guard of honour, mounted by soldiers in their ceremonial red tunics.
He will be flanked by the Chief of Defence Forces and receives symbolic gifts from the military, including a neatly packed military uniform.
“The event is in line with the military traditions and custom to hold a farewell ceremony for the Commander in Chief of Defence Forces,” KDF Spokesperson Colonel Esther Wanjiku said.
During his 10-year reign, Mr Kenyatta’s close dalliance with the military has seen him receive praise for improving their welfare, equipment and budgetary allocations.
In July, he conducted the Kenya Army band during the opening of their headquarters and Defence Music School at Lang’ata Barracks. He does not hide his liking for the military.
The major projects the Kenyatta administration initiated for the military include setting up the first level-six armed forces hospital at Kabete, upgrading Moi Forces Memorial Hospital and setting up regional hospitals, increasing their housing capacity and equipment modernisation.
His move to involve soldiers in civilian functions in his bid to revive collapsed government projects and tame wastage of public funds has, however, earned him criticism for allegedly attempting to “militarise” public service.
A less than three-hour farewell event for Mr Kibaki was held at Moi Airbase Barracks in Nairobi in 2013 during which he was handed amongst others a tractor, a military uniform, four Friesian cows, a complete Kenya Army red tunic packed in a glass chamber, and a portrait of him after inspecting a past guard of honour.