President William Ruto on Saturday said that his administration will support the Kenya Air Force to train at least 200 pilots annually.
The President said he had held discussions with the command of the Kenya Air Force which assured him that they have the capabilities to offer the training.
“The Kenya Air Force has promised me that they have the capabilities and I will also commit that my administration will support the Kenya Air Force to train a minimum of 200 pilots every year,’’ Ruto said.
He made the remarks when he presided over the 60th Anniversary of the Kenya Air Force at the Moi Airbase in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
The president said that the ambitious programme will commence next year to not only enhance the capabilities of the Kenya Air Force but to also support the civilian aviation locally and in the region.
“Let me also commit that in discussion with the County of Nairobi, we will make sure that this facility does not lose its premium position,'' the President said.
Ruto directed that his administration will work with the county government to reign in on rogue developers who have built high-rise buildings beyond the limit provided by KDF around Eastleigh.
“We will work with the Nairobi City County to make sure that all developers keep to the standards that we have agreed with the Kenya Air Force and the Kenya Defence Forces,’’ he said.
The president said that the allocation of 10,000 housing units to the KDF fraternity under his National Housing programme will be accelerated.
"That is just but the beginning, we will continuously work with the housing fund and the government of Kenya to make sure that our Kenya Defense Forces personnel have adequate and proper housing,'' he said.