President William Ruto has called for a broader approach to Kenya’s national security as the country begins conversations on its transformation beyond Vision 2030. 
By Fredrick Kioko,
President William Ruto has called for a broader approach to Kenya’s national security as the country begins conversations on its transformation beyond Vision 2030.
Speaking during the passing-out parade of the first cohort of 2025 recruits at the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Recruits Training School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Ruto said national security must remain at the heart of Kenya’s development agenda.
The President said security and development should not be viewed as competing priorities, noting that a secure environment creates the foundation for economic growth and national progress.
He said Kenya’s security priorities must now go beyond protecting the country’s borders to include the protection of digital systems, critical infrastructure, food and energy supplies, territorial waters and other key pillars of the modern economy.
Ruto also warned that the nature of security threats is changing, requiring Kenya to prepare for emerging challenges linked to cyberspace, artificial intelligence, climate change and new disease outbreaks.
“The battlefield is changing,” the President said, stressing the need for the country to continuously strengthen its ability to respond to new and evolving threats.
Ruto pledged continued government investment in the welfare, training and readiness of the Kenya Defence Forces.
He said the government would strengthen the country’s capabilities in cybersecurity, intelligence, maritime security and military medicine as part of efforts to prepare Kenya for future security challenges.
The President also emphasised the importance of supporting members of the KDF and their families, saying those who serve the country deserve dignity, recognition and better welfare.
He said the KDF must not only protect the Kenya of today but also help secure the Kenya the country aspires to become beyond 2030.
During the ceremony, the President congratulated the newly graduated recruits for successfully completing what he described as a demanding course.
He urged the recruits to approach their new responsibilities with courage, discipline and restraint as they begin serving the country.
The passing-out parade marked the completion of training for the first recruits cohort of 2025, with the graduates now expected to take up their respective roles within the defence forces.
Ruto said the new officers have a critical role to play in safeguarding Kenya’s national interests as the country prepares for an increasingly complex security environment.
