The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) on Tuesday kicked off a road construction program in Thika Town as part of its way of giving back to the community.
The officers from KDF’s Army Corps of Engineers embarked on a road construction project on Gatundu-Munyu Road in Kamagambo, Thika Town Constituency, Kiambu County.
According to KDF, the construction of the road vital for the area residents is expected to also help the disciplined forces in expressing their commitment to help Kenyans when they mark the KDF Day in mid-October.
The project is set to include drainage installation and layering with the intended goal of helping the local community that previously expressed frustration over the poor state of the roads around the area.
KDF took up the project, traditionally a preserve of the Ministry of Transport after the local community around the area requested KDF to help them repair the road following failed lobbying with other government bodies that were directly concerned with having the road repaired.
This prompted the officers from the Defence Department to engage in extensive consultations before they decided to have the road repaired.
According to KDF, this will further deepen the cooperation between members of the public and the military, especially towards helping the public promote their economic potential with the opening of previously marginalized areas.
The soldiers also revealed that that was just a start to their continued future similar projects that they are planning to undertake in Makongeni and Kiganjo areas in Thika.
The launch of the construction works was attended by high-ranking officers from the infantry including Combat Engineers Brigade Commander Brigadier Victor Mburu and Construction Engineers Brigade Commander Brigadier Joseph Mutua and officials from Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).
Officers from KDF have in the past been instrumental in community development projects across the country with the national government tapping on them to help extend development projects to the locals.
President Uhuru Kenyatta tapped KDF during his tenure to run Kenya’s key institutions that were debt-ridden.
This was despite growing public skepticism that the move would militarize public affairs.
These included the Kenya Meat Commission and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services which was headed by Lieutenant General Ali Badi from the Airforce.
