KDF Officers Come To Pregnant Woman's Rescue, Surprise Her With Gifts

Officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) on Friday, March 22 came to the aid of a pregnant woman who had been in labour for hours in Wajir County.

In a statement by KDF, it was revealed that the soldiers were on patrol in the area near Gherille when they encountered the woman.

As there was no medical facility to attend to them based on it being an emergency, the officers took it upon themselves to help the woman successfully deliver her baby.

In line with normal practice, the KDF officers also went ahead to take the mother and her newborn baby to a neighbouring medical facility to receive medical attention.

KDF officers posing for a photo with a family while delivering gifts after the safe delivery of a baby in Wajir County. /KDF

"KDF troops under Close Operations from Gherille while on patrol in the area came to the aid of a pregnant woman who had been in labour for hours. The patrol medics managed to facilitate a safe delivery to a healthy baby boy.

"The mother, Salma Osman, was handed her healthy baby boy. The mother and the newborn were later taken to Gherille Health facility for postnatal care and vaccination," stated the KDF in part.

The patrol further in line with the Kenyan tradition of receiving a newborn gave a basket of edibles to the family. KDF wished the mother and baby good health.

KDF troops deployed at Gherille Forward Operation Base (FOB) have been undertaking various Civil-Military Cooperation activities within Gherille Centre and Handaki East in Wajir County.

Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) is an integral part of the overall military mission and is normally conducted by the military forces in areas where the troops are stationed to enhance good relations with civilians.

KDF has been offering free medical services in Gherille in addition to donating assorted foodstuffs and supplying fresh water to the residents.

The initiatives by the military have gone a long way in fostering good relations with locals.

The latest initiative continues KDF's willingness to maintain their high nobility and win over Kenyans as well as other people in their travels to other countries for special operations meant to ensure their safety. 

In December 2022, KDF 's Quick Reaction Force (QRF) troops deployed in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) helped stranded motorists at Ofaye along the Eringeti-Komanda road after more than 20 vehicles comprising cargo trailers and public service vehicles transporting people and essential goods had been forced to wait for days.

This was after the road was blocked by trucks that had been stuck on the road due to the ongoing heavy rains and the bad state of the road.

The KDF soldiers who were on patrol duties utilised their offroad armoured personnel and recovery vehicles to pull out the trucks that were blocking the easy movement of motorists from both sides of the road.

"The road users, who are mostly businessmen and farmers, expressed their appreciation for the help offered by the Kenyan troops.

"They added that the move helped them avert losses that they would have incurred by staying on the road," KDF stated in part.