NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 27 — The Kenya Navy has embarked on a comprehensive training exercise aimed at equipping Junior Officers Under Training (JOUTS) with essential sea skills.
The exercise, dubbed Exercise Jitegemee XXV, kicked off at the Kenya Navy Fleet, situated at Mkunguni Jetty.
Deputy Commander of the Kenya Navy, Brigadier Yahya Abdi, presided over the flag-off ceremony aboard Kenya Navy Ship (KNS) Jasiri and KNS Shujaa.
The training cruise marked the culmination of theoretical coursework undertaken by JOUTS at the Kenya Navy Training College (KNTC) after they graduated from the Kenya Military Academy (KMA).
The training curriculum, encompassing extensive sea and in-port exercises, seeks to foster self-reliance among junior officers, preparing them for future command and leadership responsibilities within the naval domain.
Ethics and discipline
In a message conveyed during the ceremony, Kenya Navy Commander, Major General Jimson Mutai, emphasized the importance of discipline among the crew and JOUTS, urging them to uphold the ethos of the Kenya Navy as exemplary ambassadors.
“The Kenya Navy Ships will be calling to Port Victoria in Seychelles for the exercise meant to equip you with skills and experiences both at sea and in port,” he said in a message, delivered on his behalf by Brigadier Abdi.
“This is meant to enable you [to] improve your skills acquired in class. This course is essential for every seaman as it’s a platform for learning individual responsibilities.”
Furthermore, Commander Kenya Navy Fleet, Brigadier Sankale Kiswaa, urged the ship crew to impart knowledge to the trainees, thereby enhancing their skills for future operational environments in a message delivered by Senior Officer Afloat (SOA) 66 Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Safari Kalume.
Brigadier Abdi extended gratitude to the Chief of the Defence Forces for facilitating the necessary resources to conduct the exercise.
Various officials graced the flag-off ceremony including Commander Kenya Navy Base Mtongwe, Brigadier Peter Chelimo, Chief of Operations, Colonel Michael Atodonyang, Chief of Naval Medical Services, Colonel Muithia Ngundo, alongside other Kenya Navy Officers and Service personnel.
