Kenyan Troops Land in DR Congo’s Goma City
The Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi flagged off the first Kenyan Contingent (KENCON) troops under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) being deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Embakasi Garrison.
Kenyan Troops Land in DR Congo’s Goma City
The Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi flagged off the first Kenyan Contingent (KENCON) troops under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) being deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Embakasi Garrison.
Just two weeks have passed since His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, gave the troops the national flag and urged them to fly it proudly.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gen. Kibochi expressed his confidence that the forces were mission-ready following the necessary training and reaffirmed that they are ready to carry out the tasks as outlined in the mandate.
He additionally exhorted the troops to maintain discipline among themselves and to further foster positive relationships with the DRC’s citizens and other peacekeepers stationed there.
“You are the arrowheads; write a nice one since you are the first team to participate in an East Africa Community peacekeeping operation and you are making history. I hope you keep up Kenya’s solid peacekeeping track record. You are there for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration politically and diplomatically, he emphasized.
The National Assembly approved the KDF’s deployment to the Eastern DRC on Wednesday of this week. In spite of the intensified conflict in the operation area, the continent will have a solution.
To bid farewell to the troops, service commanders, general officers, senior officers, officers, and service personnel were present, along with Lieutenant General Francis Ogolla, deputy chief of the defence forces.
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As part of a regional military campaign against rebels in the conflict-torn region, the Kenyan soldiers arrived in the city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Saturday.
Their arrival coincides with the M23 militia’s uprising across the North Kivu province of the DRC, taking large areas of land and escalating tensions in central Africa, according to AFP.
On November 12, 2022, Kenyan soldiers arrived in the city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of a regional military campaign aimed against the rebels in the area.
According to AFP reporters who were present, two planes carrying roughly 100 Kenyan soldiers landed at Goma airport on Saturday and were welcomed by authorities from the area.
According to Kenyan Lieutenant-Colonel Dennis Obiero, their purpose is to work with Congolese forces “to execute offensive operations” and aid in the disarmament of militias.
In order to bring peace to the eastern DRC, the Kenyan contingent will also collaborate with aid organizations, he continued, noting that insecurity “is something which rips up the societal fabric.”
On November 12, 2022, Kenyan soldiers arrive in the city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of a regional military operation aimed at the rebels in the area. PHOTO/AFP
