KENYATTA ARRIVING GILGIL BARRACKS; GREETED; INSPECTING TROOPS AND BARRACKS, SALADINS AND MORTAR CREWS, PARACHUTISTS DROPPING; KENYATTA ADDRESSING TROOPS.




Initials SA/VS/MR/SS



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Background: PRESIDENT JOMO KENYATTA MARKED THE FOURTH DAY OF KENYA FORCES WEEK BY OFFICIALLY VISITING THE GILGIL GARRISON, KENYA ARMY, IN THE RIFT VALLEY PROVINCE YESTERDAY (4 MARCH); THE PRESIDENT IS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES.

THE PRESIDENT WAS GREETED BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER AND INSPECTED A GUARD OF HONOUR BEFORE REVIEWING THE SUPPORT BATTALION OF THE KENYA ARMY. A LINE OF SALADIN ARMOURED CARS AND MORTAR CREWS WERE PARADED AS MR. KENYATTA STOOD IN HIS LAND ROVER. LATER HE ALSO VIEWED A SPECIAL DISPLAY OF PARACHUTISTS MAKING A DROP AT GILGIL AIRSTRIP AND ADDRESSED ALL RANKS OF THE 7TH KENYA RIFLES AND SUPPORT BATTALION IN KENYATTA BARRACKS BEFORE RETURNING TO NAIROBI.

AT THE START OF KENYA FORCES WEEK, PRESIDENT KENYATTA SAID THAT THE AIM WAS PARTLY TO RAISE THE REMAINING FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FORCES MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IT WAS TO SHOW THE PEOPLE SOMETHING OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SECURITY FORCES IN KENYA AND TO FOSTER GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE FORCES AND THE PEOPLE.