Kenyan peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) combined a community outreach visit with a heartfelt celebration involving a mission civilian staff member. Personnel from the Kenyan Quick Reaction Force (KENQRF 5) visited Mavivi Health Centre, where they engaged with patients and staff and joined civilian employee Kathembo Kilolo in celebrating the birth of his twin sons, who were born on Christmas Day.
The twins, delivered at the government health facility, marked a significant personal milestone for Kilolo, who has served diligently with four successive Kenyan QRF contingents since 2020. In a show of solidarity and appreciation, the contingent leadership and troops visited the family, offering baby supplies and moral support. The Contingent Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Celestine Papa, commended Kilolo for his discipline, dedication, and long-standing service.
Mavivi Health Centre itself reflects the lasting impact of peacekeepers’ support to the local community. Chief Nursing Officer Mr. January Kisughu noted that the maternity ward where the twins were born was constructed by MONUSCO peacekeepers.
“The community is happy about the peacekeepers’ life-saving support,” Kisughu said, underscoring the importance of such infrastructure in a region affected by conflict.
During the visit, the peacekeepers interacted with patients and medical staff, offering encouragement and hope. The unit’s clergy led prayers for the newborns, their parents, and all patients receiving care at the facility.
For Kathembo Kilolo, the gesture carried deep personal meaning.
“The successive QRFs have been supportive to us as civilian staff, and that support is also felt within the communities we come from,” he remarked.
Established in 1985, Mavivi Health Centre has seen its operational capacity significantly strengthened over the years through the sustained presence and direct support of MONUSCO peacekeepers.
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