This archive report was first published on 17 July 2021.
On July 17, 2021, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops working under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) handed over four newly built classrooms and a sports stadium to the local administration in Ras Kamboni, Somalia.
Colonel Pascal Kitiro, the Sector 2 Deputy Commander, presided over the handover ceremony, emphasizing the importance of education in the country's growth. He noted that the project aimed to provide quality education in the region for overall development and stability in Somalia.
General Mohammed Ibrahim, the Southern Sector District Commissioner, thanked KDF for supporting locals in the area and emphasized the importance of education in the country's future. He promised that his administration would ensure adequate and quality educational facilities were available to students.
Mr. Abdi Harun, the Ras Kamboni Primary School Head Teacher, thanked KDF for the development, stating that the classrooms would provide a conducive environment for learning. He added that the teachers were happy that the development would assist pupils to learn like their counterparts all over the world.
Colonel Kitiro also handed over the Ras Kamboni sports grounds to the local administration and donated football jerseys, balls, and goal post nets to four local teams. The officials were treated to a football match after the commissioning of the grounds, which were envisaged to be patronized by ten local football teams.
Salim Goni, a youth leader, noted that sports was a useful activity in keeping the youth busy and away from joining dangerous groups. He added that with high unemployment rates and nothing else to do, the youth would be easily sucked into dangerous groups.
The grounds and classrooms were built by KDF troops under its Civil Military Cooperation obligations to improve the livelihoods of locals in the area. Local youths welcomed the gesture, promising to work hand in hand with both the local security agencies and KDF under AMISOM in combating criminal and terror activities.
