By NYAMBEGA GISESA
Posted Saturday, December 24 2011 at 19:57
Posted Saturday, December 24 2011 at 19:57
Military men who died in the war against Al-Shabaab have been accorded State honours posthumously.
Those who paid the ultimate price when their helicopter crashed on duty during Operation Linda Nchi were conferred with Silver Star of Kenya (SS) awards for their acts of bravery.
Major Samuel Kavindu, who was the co-pilot of the military helicopter, the helicopter’s captain Major Kizito Nyamohanga, radio technician Corporal Noel Kipkosiom and armament technician Corporal Francis Languchia were honoured.
Similarly, Navy officers who died when their boat capsized in the Indian Ocean as they supported frontline troops were also recognised. NGR Philip Ochieng, GNR Kevin Wamai, and Brigadier Edward Mugo were also awarded SS.
However, the most prestigious Award, Uhodari Medal, has not been given in over 20 years to recognise most outstanding acts of sacrifice among the armed forces. The last recipient was General Mohamud Haji Mohamed in 1987.
President Daniel Moi awarded General Mohamed the Uhodari Medal (UM) for the role he played in saving his government during the abortive 1982 coup plot.
So far, only 13 Kenyans are in the list of Kenya’s most exclusive presidential award club. And a number of the winners are not alive today.
As the country’s highest gallantry award, it’s given to the most conscious bravery or for some daring and pre-eminent act of valour, self-sacrifice, or for extreme devotion to duty involving imminent danger of death to the performer.
The silver cross UM was first given on June 1, 1967, to Major James Lellesian Lengees, Corporal Johannes Etuwan Kiriwo, Constable Kindu Kimunyi (posthumously), Sergeant Marioko Lemia and Sergeant Ekeno Lochul.
In 1968, two members of the Kenya Army and two policemen (posthumously) were awarded the Uhodari Medal. President Kenyatta bestowed the same award on Pte Jacob Mtua (Kenya Army), Lieutenant Corporal Kipkemoi Chumo (Kenya Army) and Pte Timothy Theuri (Kenya Army).
Evidently, the stories of these men and their acts were of utmost courage and bravery.
On patrol
Corporal Kiriwo was a platoon sergeant for the 1st battalion of the Kenya Rifles (now Kenya Army). On October 4, 1965 his platoon patrolling in two military lorries in Eastern Province came under fire from a well-armed gang of 200 shifta. Four soldiers died and two were badly wounded.
Seeing two shifta aiming rifles at them, Corporal Kiriwo killed them using a grenade, carried wounded men into one of the lorries in the face of close shifta attacks, called for ammunition and distributed it, took full command and got the platoon mortar into action.
His actions forced the enemy to withdraw, leaving eight dead, four rifles, and a quantity of ammunition on the field.
“By his heroic and competent action, Corporal Kiriwo turned a potential disaster into a rout of the enemy. His utter disregard of personal safety, and his inspiring example, were beyond praise,” his citation reads.
In September 1965, as a Company Commander (5th Battalion, Kenya Rifles) Major Lengees was carrying out a security tour in Mandera when he noted a wounded police convoy.
The convoy commander was already dead. Dropping with a helicopter, Major Lengees ensured that all the wounded were ferried away for treatment.
But he chose to remain behind to take command despite facing shifta fire and organised a system of defence even with dwindling ammunition.
Act of bravery
Major Lengees saved many lives by running 300 yards under fire to warn approaching reinforcements of shifta dispositions. At the end of it, six shifta died and four got wounded.
Another utmost act of bravery in the finest traditions of the armed forces was that of Constable Kimunyi who, on June 24, 1964, was escorting from Isiolo to Nanyuki a Land-Rover carrying over €5,000 (Sh670,000) in cash.
They were attacked by a well-concealed gang of six shifta armed with precision weapons. Everyone ran away leaving him alone.
Even in the face of certain death, Kimunyi climbed into the driving seat and managed to start the engine with the hope of driving away the vehicle. He was struck in the head by a bullet and died instantly.He fought the gang until his rifle jammed, and by then he was grievously wounded by shifta fire.
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