After my first article on the fight against Al-Shabaab was published in the Nation last Thursday, several readers asked a number of questions.READ: LAIBUTA: Forces should not let militants re-group)
Two that I will answer today are: Is our military up to this task or have they been “fattening” in the barracks?
Where does Kenya’s ethnic Somali community fit into the equation?
To start with, I am immensely proud of our military. As another retired officer wrote, I wish I was part of the action.
The notion Kenyans have about our military lounging in the barracks is wrong. Kenyans are not entirely to blame though as the military does very little to educate the public.
A country is like a three-legged stool. The three crucial legs are the military, the economy and the body politic in its entirety (sovereignty, geographical, strategic importance).
Without any of three ‘legs’ a country cannot stand. The military is usually referred to as a ‘state within a state’.
It has all the elements of being self contained, with its own medical, religious, educational officials, among others. It also has engineers, lawyers, accountants, media and other professionals.
It is noteworthy that the Kenyan military mans the many banditry and cattle rustling hot spots in the northern Kenya.
These operations serves as a good training grounds. Kenyan military training is heavily based on the British and American systems and is therefore world class.
Very few countries in Africa have achieved these standards, especially being 100 per cent manoeuvre compliant (modern warfare ready).
The troops are therefore expected to put the training into practice and adapt swiftly to any situation.
People see the several potbellied soldiers, who almost entirely are non-combatants, and assume all soldiers are like that.
They should know that the fighting units, commonly referred to as the ‘Teeth Arms’, are physically very fit.
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