NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY OF KENYA (NDU-K) ACQUIRES FULL OPERATIONAL CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY

H.E Hon Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces on Wednesday 3 August 2022 presided over the inauguration of the National Defence University-Kenya (NDU-K) and declared it to be fully operational. NDU-K which is based in Lanet, Nakuru County was awarded its Charter on 27 May 2021 under Section 24 of the University Act 2012 as an institution of Strategic National importance, making it the first Specialist University in Kenya.

During the colourful ceremony, the President who is also the Chancellor of NDU-K inspected a guard of honour and thereafter unveiled the institution of higher education before being taken through a guided tour of the institution. The Chancellor of NDU-K also witnessed an elaborate homecoming ceremony of the instruments of authority of the institution.

In his speech, President Uhuru Kenyatta pointed out that the security sector needs strategic thinkers and the National Defence University of Kenya will play an active role in ensuring the country and the region at large has a thinktank of professionals in Defence and Security.

“The university is mandated to offer higher security training and educational programmes which will enhance capacity in an ever evolving regional and security matter, enhance national capacity to offer proactive and comprehensive solutions to social economic matters,” he said.

The Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi said with the acquisition of the fully operational capability status, NDU-K will be an excellent training institution and a research centre in security and strategy.

During the inauguration ceremony, the President also launched the NDU-K website and other social media platforms. NDU-K is mandated to offer strategic training to equip actors in the security sector with professional and academic skills to address emerging geopolitical challenges and security threats to Kenya’s national security.

The University has so far appointed senior civilian academic and management staff including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs and Research, University Registrar as well as Director Finance and Accounts.

In March 2022, NDU-K launched their programmes and admitted students in its various constituent colleges. The constituent colleges of NDU-K are National Defence University (NDC), Joint Command and Staff College (JCSC), Kenya Military Academy (KMA), Defence Forces Technical College (DEFTEC), International Peace Support Training Centre IPSTC), Defence College of Health Sciences (DCHS) and National Intelligence and Research University College (NIRUC).