by CYRUS OMBATI AND MAUREEN KINYANJUI
Tuesday December 13, 2022
KDF soldiers on December 12, 2022
President William Ruto on Monday presided over the first trooping of the colour ceremony for the new 23 Mechanised Infantry Battalion (23 MIB).
This is the first such event for him since he became the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces on August 30.
Officials said this is a significant transition for the Eight Infantry Brigade as the 23 MIB will now be enhanced with more support including mechanized capabilities like the use of Armoured Infantry fighting vehicles.
The 23 MIB is a new team and is one of the units of the Eight Mechanised Infantry Battalion currently located in Karare, Marsabit County.
It was established in 2017 but became fully operational in 2018 and has continued to grow in personnel, skills and operational capacity including being deployed to represent KDF in the East African Community Command Post Exercise in Jinja, Uganda in 2019.
Members from the infantry were in March this year deployed to Somalia under the Africa Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis).
Prior to 23 MIB, other units existed as Kenya Rifles, from 1KR to the last unit, 21 KR.
The Kenya Rifles units include 1KR, 3KR, 5KR, 7KR, 9KR, 11KR previously based in Lanet but that was disbanded in 1964, 15 KR, 17KR, 19KR and 21 KR. Current MIBs are 23 MIB, 25 MIB and 27 MIB.
Ruto handed over the 23 MIB its regimental colours that symbolise the highest mark of honour for any unit and whose loss would amount to the disbandment of the unit.
They are therefore well guarded.
Unlike his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta who donned military uniforms in such occasions, Ruto did not.
The practice of “Trooping the Colours” originated from 17th century England whereby the Queen’s Colour, a symbol of sovereignty, would be showcased in an elaborate ceremony.
After independence, the presidential and regimental colours replaced those of the Queen.
The colours symbolise the spirit of the regiment for they bear the battle honours and badges granted to it in commemoration of gallant deeds performed by its troops.
Last year was a moment of pride for the 19th Battalion, the Kenya Rifles (19 KR), as the unit received the Presidential and Regimental Colour during the 2021 Jamhuri Day celebrations held on Sunday, 12 December 2021 at the Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi County.
The Colours were presented by Uhuru while donning the ceremonial Kenya Army red tunic dress.
The ceremony began with president inspecting a Guard of Honour mounted by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) services of the Kenya Army, the Kenya Air Force (KAF) and the Kenya Navy escorted by the KDF Band.The president was was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Robert Kibochi.
The Colours embody the spirit of the Regiment and the exemplary service performed by a specific regiment.The Presidential Colour is trooped when a Unit or Base performs a national ceremony in which Commander-in-Chief or Head State of a foreign Country is honoured with a military parade known as Guard of Honour.
The Regimental Colour is presented to a Unit or Base at the same time with the Presidential Colour and it is displayed whenever the Unit or the Base performs a ceremony for General Officers who are accorded Half Guard Parades whenever they pay a courtesy visit.