By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, August 13, 2026 - President William Ruto has challenged newly trained Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel to prepare for a changing security landscape where threats may come not only from armed enemies, but also from cyberspace, artificial intelligence, climate change and attacks on critical infrastructure.
Speaking during the pass-out parade of more than 5,000 KDF recruits in Eldoret on Thursday, Ruto said modern soldiers must combine military discipline with technological knowledge as Kenya prepares for emerging threats.
“You enter service as the battlefield itself is changing. An attack may target a server instead of a border post. A drone may fly without a pilot. Artificial intelligence may disrupt systems, distort information, and erode public trust,” he said.
The President said threats to Kenya's security could increasingly affect essential systems such as food supplies, energy networks, ports and digital infrastructure.
“Our food systems, our energy grids, our ports, and our data now sit on the same terrain as our borders,” he said.
Ruto urged the recruits to learn from previous generations of servicemen while preparing the military for challenges that earlier generations could not have anticipated.
“You inherit an institution built by servicemen and veterans whose courage laid its foundation. Honour them not only by preserving what they built, but also by preparing for a world they could not have imagined,” he said.
He said the government would continue investing in specialised KDF capabilities, including cybersecurity, intelligence, maritime security and military medicine.
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Ruto also defended the military's growing role in national development, saying its expertise in engineering, construction, medicine, disaster response and logistics could strengthen the country's resilience.
“The first duty of the KDF remains, and will always remain, the defence of our Republic. Nothing dilutes that mandate. But the same capabilities that defend a modern nation can also build one,” he said.
The President assured the recruits that the government would continue supporting their welfare, training and readiness, as well as that of their families.
He urged the new servicemen and women to exercise authority responsibly and remain guided by the Constitution.
“Let the Constitution be your compass. Defend our sovereignty. Protect our people. Secure Kenya’s future,” Ruto said.