The first troops from Kenya to be deployed to fight M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a joint regional operation left the country on Saturday morning.
Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi saw off the team at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The team is about 903 to be deployed to the region to help contain the fighting that has displaced many.
Gen Kibochi told the troops to remember their joint mission with other East African Community states to enforce peace.
He urged the officers to obey the law of the land as they are deployed.
“We are known to follow the law wherever we go. Respect the chiefs of defence where you go,”Kibochi said.
President William Ruto last week ordered the deployment of 903 soldiers from KDF to join a regional peacekeeping mission – the East African Community Regional Force to the Democratic Republic of Congo (EACRF-DRC).
The Kenyan troops will join others from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania on the mission in Eastern DRC.
This comes as M23 rebels and DR Congo troops clashed heavily in North Kivu province on Friday.
Tensions between DR Congo and Rwanda are at their highest in years, with the DRC accusing its neighbour of backing the M23, charges the Rwandan government denies.
KDF landed safely in Goma, DRC where they will begin their peace enforcement mission. The team will be part of EACRF mission in support of FARDC efforts to neutralize M23 rebels and restore peace in Eastern DRC.
