Kenyan peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), through the Kenyan Quick Reaction Force (KENQRF 4), today officially handed over three semi-permanent kitchens to widows and orphans hosted at the Anglican Church (AC) of Beni Cathedral, Kasabinyole Location, in North Kivu Province.
The facilities, funded and constructed by the KDF soldiers, represent a critical humanitarian gesture aimed at supporting seven widows and thirty-six orphans currently housed at the cathedral. These vulnerable individuals were displaced due to persistent insecurity in various parts of North Kivu and Ituri Provinces.
The handover ceremony was presided over by Bishop Cyrille Kambale Tavurima of Beni Cathedral, who lauded the initiative as a timely and befitting gesture of brotherhood.
“We are deeply grateful to MONUSCO, through the Kenyan forces, for helping us solve one of the main challenges we’ve been facing since we started hosting these families two years ago. We urge you to continue in the same spirit whenever you can,” he said.
In his remarks, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Seda, the KENQRF Commander, noted that the Kenyan troops were humbled to be part of rebuilding society, albeit in small but significant ways.
“You may have lost your parents and spouses, but you have not lost love. We are here as your extended family, to lift you up and walk beside you. It is in the interest of both MONUSCO and the KDF to see to it that we coexist and walk together with everyone—especially members of the local community—on the crucial path toward peace,” he said, further emphasizing MONUSCO’s commitment to the Protection of Civilians as one of its key mandates.
His sentiments were echoed by Major Reuben Kyambo, the KENQRF Community Engagement Team Leader, who noted that although no words or assistance can truly fill the void of loss, KENQRF is committed to ensuring that through Civil-Military Cooperation, such vulnerable members of the community are given a reason to smile.
Speaking on behalf of the widows and orphans, Maman Anne Kalivanda expressed gratitude to the soldiers and urged them to continue their acts of kindness.
“There are many others like us out there. We urge MONUSCO to continue extending help to them and, if possible, to impart skills such as tailoring and culinary arts to enhance self-sustenance.”
The contributions were made through the Anglican Church of KENQRF, led by Corporal (Reverend) Thomas Mwangi, who during the handover underscored the pivotal role of unity between the two churches in addressing such plights.
The Kenyan troops’ involvement is part of a broader Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) strategy aimed at winning hearts and minds while addressing immediate humanitarian needs alongside ongoing stabilization efforts in eastern DRC.
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