Africa-Press – Kenya. President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, September 23, wore two different sets of military uniform during a tour of the Kenya Navy Base, Manda Bay in Lamu County.
The President arrived while wearing a jungle army garment (camouflage) but was later spotted wearing the red Kenya Army Ceremonial attire.
While in the jungle green camouflaged uniform, he was received by Defence CS Monica Juma and Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces Robert Kibochi.
The Commander in Chief, later on, changed the attire during the Presidential and Regimental Colour Presentation Ceremony which he awarded Lieutenant Nordin Juma.
Security expert George Msamali, who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke, pointed out that the red tunic is the official ceremonial uniform used by the President.
“The red tunic is the ceremonial uniform. When Uhuru is presiding over a military parade, he has to put on the red tunic. The other one is the jungle uniform, which he uses when he is in the field for operations.”
“In the hierarchy, we have the Kenyan Army (Nchi Kavu), followed by the Kenyan Airforce and the Kenya Navy. So the tradition has been that he must put on the colours of the major wing of the army (largest service) and that is the Kenya Army,” he clarified.
Uhuru, whose teen dream was to become a soldier, is known for donning military regalia during official state functions.
The Head of State stepped out in full military regalia for the first time when presiding over a function at Archer’s Post in Samburu in 2014.
He has since stepped out in the uniform on numerous occasions – the last time being in 2018 during the Jamhuri Day celebrations held at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi.
Uhuru’s father and founding President Jomo Kenyatta donned the ceremonial red tunic uniform in 1971.
Former President Daniel Arap Moi also appeared in the military gear during the 1980 Jamhuri Day celebrations, while Kenya’s third President Mwai Kibaki shunned the military uniforms in the ten years he was in power.
