President William Ruto commissioned the Lanet Regional Hospital at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru County, yesterday.

Ruto also presided over the commissioning of officer cadets at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru.

Among the officers were the first graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree in Defence and Security studies from the National Defence University.

Ruto, while commissioning the hospital and Ulinzi Prime Health Fund, said the initiatives are in line with the government’s agenda to achieve Universal Health Coverage and advance Vision 2030.

“These initiatives will enable members of the Defence Forces Community to access military referral hospitals through existing including the Social Health Insurance Fund and the emergency, chronic, and critical illness fund,” he said.

He added that the hospital will also serve members of the public.

This level IV hospital is the fourth of its kind developed by the Kenya Defense Forces, following the Nairobi Regional Hospital in Kahawa Garrison, the Isiolo Regional Hospital in Isiolo, and the Eldoret Regional Hospital located in Moi Barracks, Eldoret, which is the most recent addition.

The Lanet Regional Hospital features several structural improvements compared to the previous three hospitals. 

It includes specialized units such as an intensive care unit and a radiology department, offering services for CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasounds. 

Additionally, the hospital has a maternity wing and operating theatres.

 It also provides occupational therapy and has a playground for children.

According to General Charles Kahariri, the facility aims to offer specialized healthcare to service members, their dependents, and veterans across the country.

 “The facility will serve both retired and active-duty soldiers as well as their families from the Nakuru region and its surroundings,” he stated.

Furthermore, Gen. Kahariri mentioned that discussions are ongoing regarding the possibility of extending medical services to the civilian population for a fee.

 “The Ministry of Defence has engaged civilian medical experts to support the KDF medical personnel in service provision,” he added.

Ruto said the newly commissioned officers are not just soldiers but scholars, strategists and patriots.

He expressed confidence in them, saying they have been prepared thoroughly and expertly equipped to defend the country.

Alongside Kenyan commissioned officers were officers from Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Rwanda, Siera Leone, Tanzania and Uganda. This according to Ruto, indicated a growing regional solidarity.

Ruto said in the Horn of Africa, peace remains a mission and a mandate, adding that there should be regional and international cooperation to handle security.

Ruto noted that the field at a time, the security landscape has evolved rapidly, shaped by unconventional threats and digital warfare.

“I commend the Kenya Defence Forces for staying ahead of the curve by retooling training methods, adopting cutting-edge technologies, and building agile leaders ready to meet today’s complex security demands,” said Ruto.

Ruto said KDF remains the bulwark of peace locally and internationally and an anchor for stability.

Ruto urged Kenyans of all walks to desist from discussing military matters in their discussions.

“We must be sensitive and keep off matters military in random talk. My administration and I as the Commander-in-Chief, will defend by all means possible our military as they guarantee our stability and development,” he said.