Africa-Press – Kenya. Retired 3-star general Humprey Njoroge in his memoire Promises to Keep and Miles to Go says members of the military are meant to be apolitical. Njoroge said “the military should never express support for political parties or association with political parties, either at work or social functions.”
Beside this, the general added that soldiers are not supposed to interact with politicians. This, he said, was on grounds that it may prejudice the discipline and conduct of the armed forces.
Njoroge said military members are usually not allowed to be partisan in elections unless they are just voting- which happens only when necessary. “Members of the Kenya Military only exercise their right to vote by casting their individual votes,” he said.
The general said soldiers are meant to be loyal to the state. He said however, said this was easier when the state was a single party state under the KANU regime.
“Thereafter, however, it was difficult to build loyalty to the state because the soldiers would vote on tribal lines,” he said.
“Traditionally in Kenya, the military was not very active in politics, and even after retirement, officers shied from politics.”
Njoroge said the rule was taken so seriously that if one openly declared interest in politics, they became persona non grata from the military barracks and facilities like AFCO, hospital and messes, which was equivalent to a dishonorable discharge status.
“This situation still divides serving officers from retired ones who have declared active political participation. They are despised and treated with suspicion,” he said. The general said the first military officer to venture into politics was general Jackson Mulinge, who was elected MP for Kathiani in Machakos.
“Soldiers spoke in low tones in barracks, that the CGS had violated the military code of behavior and was ridiculed by civilians, which in their view was an insult to the military,” he said.
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