The Kenyan military has denied claims that Southern Sudan president is in the country to inspect the military cargo that was aboard the Ukrainian owned vessel MV Faina. Chief of the General Staff Jeremiah Kianga expressed dismay that there was still speculation that the equipment does not belong to the Kenyan military.
Speaking at a consultation forum between the media and the armed forces at the army headquarters, General Kianga invited the media for any necessary clarification on military issues and urged them to exercise professionalism in their reporting especially on matters of national security.
There has been speculation that the weapons aboard the ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates last year and later released last month were destined for Southern Sudan via Kenya.
However the government vehemently denied the allegations and invited the media to witness the offloading of the cargo and its transportation to army barracks in Nairobi
Meanwhile Kianga has said Kenyan military forces have a duty to ensure border safety especially along the Kenya-Somalia border. He dismissed threats by the Somali insurgent group Al Shabaab that had warned Kenyan troops against patrolling the volatile border saying the military had a duty to protect Kenya against outside insecurity.
He further issued a stern warning to pirates along the troubled Somali coast that they would face dire consequences should they trespass into Kenyan waters. On recruitment into the disciplined forces he urged graduates from the National Youth service not to expect automatic absorption into the military service in the forthcoming recruitment exercise that will be conducted countrywide.
