Break in tradition: Ruto skips cadet pass-out amid Nyanza tour

Jukwaa

📋 Breaking It Down

President William Ruto on Thursday missed the pass-out parade of 129 cadets at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru, in one of the rare occasions in the history of military ceremonies.

Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri presided over the parade on behalf of the President, who was on a four-day development tour of the Nyanza region.

The tour, which began on Monday and ended on Thursday, saw the President inspect and commission development projects worth billions of shillings in counties across the lakeside region.

📌 What You Need to Know

President William Ruto addresses residents at Nyamasaria after commissioning the Sh8.4 billion Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project on September 14, 2026.

Happening for the first time at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, the ceremony was largely a military affair with General Kahariri inspecting the guard of honour. There was no representation from the Executive arm of government.

No reason was given for the President’s absence from the military ceremony.

While it has been customary for the Head of State to lead major military ceremonies, the law allows other senior military officials, including the Chief of Defence Forces or the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, to preside over such events or represent the government at military graduations.

Under Article 131 of the Constitution, the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, while certain command and administrative functions may be delegated under the Kenya Defence Forces Act.

Chief of the Defense Forces General Charles Kahariri follows proceedings during the pass-out parade of 129 KDF cadets at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru County on September 17, 2026.

📰 Source: Nation Africa

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