KDF takes healthcare and clean water to Somalia

by ANDRIA KRYSTINA
Monday September 14, 2026

KDF Officer providing healthcare / HANDOUT

Kenya Defence Forces personnel serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) have provided medical services and clean drinking water to the residents of Hoosingo Town in Somalia.

This is part of its efforts to strengthen relations with the local community.

The KDF personnel from the Hoosingo area conducted a Key Leadership Engagement and Civil-Military Cooperation activity aimed at addressing priority needs among residents while building stronger ties with the local population.

The outreach focused on two immediate concerns facing the community: access to basic healthcare and persistent water shortages.

“Access to basic healthcare and clean water remains vital to the wellbeing and resilience of communities facing persistent shortages,” the Ministry of Defence said.

During the medical outreach, residents were treated for common ailments and received health education on disease prevention, hygiene and healthier practices within households and the wider community.

The intervention was also aimed at addressing health concerns beyond immediate treatment, with the health education component seeking to encourage practices that could help prevent disease and improve household wellbeing.

KDF personnel also distributed clean drinking water to several households in Hoosingo, providing relief to residents affected by continued shortages.

The ministry said the provision of water addressed an immediate humanitarian need while complementing wider efforts to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable members of the community.

The engagement went beyond the delivery of medical care and water, creating an opportunity for AUSSOM personnel, local leaders and residents to interact and discuss community concerns.

According to the Ministry of Defence, such interaction is important in strengthening mutual understanding between security forces and the communities they serve.

“Addressing these essential needs not only provides immediate relief but also strengthens cooperation, trust and relationships between security forces and the communities they serve,” the ministry said.

The KDF said sustained engagement and responsiveness to community concerns can help build confidence between security personnel and residents, particularly in areas where security operations are taking place.

The initiative highlights the role of Civil-Military Cooperation in supporting communities within the AUSSOM mission area while contributing to wider peace and stability efforts in Somalia.

Rather than focusing solely on security operations, the engagement combined humanitarian assistance with dialogue between the military and local residents.

The ministry said this community-centred approach helps create conditions conducive to peace and stability by strengthening relationships between security forces and the populations they serve.

KDF personnel serving under AUSSOM continue to use such engagements to respond to community needs while building relationships considered important to long-term stability in the mission area.