The 5th Annual Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Senior Commanders’ Seminar was recently held at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) in Embakasi, Nairobi.
Held under the theme “Commanders’ Role in Disease Prevention,” the seminar brought together commanders from various units and formations to deliberate on the emergence, prevention, and control of lifestyle diseases. Discussions focused on strengthening awareness and enhancing health measures within the military healthcare system, recognizing that health security is now an integral component of the contemporary security environment.
While officially opening the seminar, the Assistant Chief of the Defence Forces in charge of Operations, Doctrine and Training (OPD&T), Major General Fredrick Leuria, lauded the initiative as key to advancing mission readiness. He emphasized that promoting the health and well-being of service personnel not only strengthens operational effectiveness but also contributes to the broader national agenda by fostering a healthier population.
The seminar’s guest speaker, Professor Grace Irimu, addressed a range of critical topics, including the prevention and management of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension through a continuum-of-care approach. She underscored the importance of health promotion and upstream interventions in disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation to reduce the burden of lifestyle-related conditions. Her presentation highlighted the need to build a culture of sustainable health and preventive living among service members.
Echoing her sentiments, the Director of Medical Services (DMS), Brigadier (Dr) Japheth Ndegwa, urged commanders to recognize the growing threat lifestyle diseases pose to mission readiness. He called for regular medical screening and encouraged the adoption of healthier, more conscious lifestyles among all personnel. He further emphasized that commanders bear a responsibility to lead by example and actively educate those under their command on sound health practices to ensure effective force protection.
The two-day seminar covered a wide range of topics, including mental health, HIV and other syndemic diseases in Kenya, the role and mandate of Ulinzi Health Services Fund, the national plan to eliminate cervical cancer, and the contributions of the chaplaincy and education branches in disease prevention and support.
The seminar reaffirmed the KDF’s commitment to safeguarding the health of its personnel, recognizing that a healthy force remains the foundation of a protected nation.
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