Editor's Review

The KDF deployment would continue until normalcy is restored.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has now deployed the Kenya Defence Forces across all 47 counties in Kenya.

In a gazette notice on Friday, June 28, Duale said the military will help the National Police Service (NPS) to secure critical government infrastructure and maintain law and order.

“Based on the prevailing threats to national security planned and orchestrated through various platforms in the cyberspace, the deployment will cover the Forty-Seven Counties within the Republic of Kenya where critical installations and infrastructure are located in order to assist the National Police Service preserve life, preserve the internal security of the State, protect property as well as maintain law and order,” read the gazette notice in part.

Duale noted that the terms of engagement for the deployment will be the constitutional standards enshrined in the Bill of Rights, Articles 238 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, statutory requirements and principles provided in the Kenya Defence Forces Act.

File image of President Ruto inspecting a KDF parade. 

The Defence CS further mentioned that the KDF deployment would continue until normalcy is restored.

This comes after the High Court declined to halt the deployment of KDF soldiers to assist the police in restoring normalcy following a petition by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).

Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled that the deployment of the military to assist the police was necessary given the need to preserve peace and public safety and protect critical infrastructure.

"Continuation of military assistance is necessary in view of the need to preserve order and protect military infrastructure," Mugambi ruled.

He however directed that duration and areas of engagement be gazetted within the next two days to alleviate public fear.