The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) earlier confirmed that the presence of the Guard of Honor (GoH) commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi heralded a historic moment.
President William Ruto on Sunday, October 20 hailed Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi for being the first woman in the Republic of Kenya to lead the Guard of Honour.
“This morning, we had a historic moment. For the first time in our country, a female soldier led the celebrations. Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi. Let us clap for her,” Ruto rallied attendees during the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kwale Stadium.
“It affirms that women can do it all. That is why we, the people of Kenya, are proud to be defenders of our freedom and aspire to remain and become free and sovereign.”
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) earlier confirmed that the presence of the Guard of Honor (GoH) commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi heralded a historic moment.
A photo of officers performing the Guard of Honour at a past celebration. /KENYA DEFENCE FORCES
Mwagandi’s selection to lead the GoH, even if special, is understandable since she possesses a wealth of experience and troops for the GoH are typically drawn from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), namely the Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force, and Kenya Navy.
After succeeding in High School at Moi Girls Eldoret with straight A’s, Lt. Col. Mwagandi was keen on pursuing a career in medicine. She, however, took up a general degree course, an academic endeavour that would last only weeks before she decided to take a chance as a cadet in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Her journey in the force began in 2007 when she joined the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet. Over time, she attained a diploma in Military Science and would later after attaining another degree from Egerton University.
As a Lieutenant, Mwagandi did not stop there. She pursued extensive practical application of naval training, leadership, command, and management abroad before returning to Kenya in 2010 and taking up the role of an instructor at the Kenya Navy Training School.
Notably, the coastal native became the first woman to command a warship in Kenya, She currently serves as Staff Officer 1 (SO1) in charge of Personnel and Administration at the Kenya Navy.
Meanwhile, the fete marked on October 20 every year, saw at least 142 heroes feted across 14 different categories including sports, statesmanship, philanthropy, and indigenous cultures.
Earlier, Culture and Heritage Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir, nominees are selected based on their extraordinary acts which have changed lives in one way or another in the society they are part of. “A final list of names of persons confirmed as qualified to be declared as heroes is forwarded to the President for declaration in the Kenya Gazette as one being a national hero,” Bashir said.
“On receipt of the nomination, the Council evaluates the nomination in accordance to a criteria provided for in the First Schedule of the Kenya Heroes Act, No. 5 of 2014. The names of all proposed persons are then published in at least two newspapers of national circulation for members of the public to provide their representations.”
The nominees are people who have made various contributions and undertaken exemplary acts to change lives for the benefit of the society where they live. In most instances have risked their lives for the benefit of communities and their actions may have been recognized globally.
The Heroes Fund was established in 2014 and is currently awaiting the development of regulations necessary to operationalize it. Once activated, the Fund will provide financial assistance to the heroes in need and their dependents. Last year, 157 heroes were awarded financial assistance.
“Apart from the normal certificates and recognition, we owe it to our heroes and we are looking at activating the National Heroes Fund which should be able to support them and their families,” Bashir said.
Culture and Heritage Principal Secretary disclosed they will be activating the National Heroes Fund to ensure that the identified men and women get preferential treatment in the country.
As it stands, heroes apart from being awarded commendation certificates and medals may have symbolic tombs, monuments and statues built in their honour where necessary.
One of the main strategies by the government will for the first time push for allocation of resources to support the heroes in their day-to-day lives. Plans are also being mooted to have books published that depict their respective roles in the country’s history.
