The National Land Commission has officially reserved over 10,000 acres of land in Garissa and Tana River counties for military use, as gazetted on January 16, 2026.

• 9,900 acres in Garissa County and 304 acres in Tana River County have been designated for military camps and training areas.
• The Ministry of Defence must adhere to 19 special conditions, including allowing controlled community access for livelihoods and wildlife corridors, and submitting environmental reports.
• The reservation orders, signed by National Land Commission Chairman Gershom Otachi on August 7, 2025, also mandate the military to promote local content and engage communities.

Military and police recruitment in Kenya, specifically for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and National Police Service, enforce strict physical requirements like height, dental health, and vision, which often lead to public debate and frustration among aspiring recruits. These standards are justified by the services for operational readiness, equipment handling, and psychological perception, despite criticisms of potentially excluding capable individuals.

• KDF generally requires male recruits to be at least 1.70 metres and female recruits 1.60 metres.
• A man from Baringo protested his exclusion from police recruitment due to height after eight years of attempts.
• Height is believed to aid in physical training, effective use of military equipment, and fostering a psychological perception of authority.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) leaders are emphasizing the critical role of cultural intelligence as a "force multiplier" in modern conflict resolution, aligning with evolving global security dynamics.

• Chief of the Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri and Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya highlighted this during the National Defence College (NDC) Cultural Day.
• The event, themed “Culture and Technology: A Fusion Fest,” was jointly organized by the NDC and Joint Command and Staff College (JCSC) at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi.
• General Kahariri stressed that cultural understanding bridges divides and fosters cooperation, while CS Tuya noted that national power extends beyond military capability, being "equally anchored in human relationships, shared values, mutual understanding."
• The cultural day brought together strategic leaders and emerging operational leaders from over 20 nationalities, featuring traditional dances, cuisine, and exhibitions.