The Emali Diary Part III (Day 18- Day 27): By Officer Recruit Benjamin Kinyili (Manager, Nyandarua Forest Zone)

The Officers Avude and Nderitu in a class room. 

The end of the 45 days training in Emali is coming to an end on 19th March when the 34 officers who participated graduate in a passing out parade that will be attended by Headquarters staff and officiated by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, Mr. M.A.M. Wa Mwachai. The Zonal Manager Nyandarua Mr. Kinyili has kept us informed on what they are undergoing with a daily update which we have posted on the blog as Emali Part I and Emali Part II.
Next week we will give you the last part of the diary as well as the passing out parade. Karibu

Day 18: 24/02/2010 Wednesday
The day started well with Duty Student (DS) giving tough commands to ensure physical training exercises went perfectly. The morning run, the physical exercises were conducted well and the bodies had adjusted to the strenuous exercises. For the first time we signed and picked the rifle at 6.00 p.m to get used to having the rifle throughout the day in all activities we are to do. The instructions were to have the rifle always touching your body or else it will be taken away and. Muster parade with rifle was very colourful,we learnt saluting using the rifle in present arms. More drills were conducted before the class started and the officers were happy for understanding some parade tactics.

Today we expect guest presentations from KFS Commandant Col.(Rtd) John Kimani and Head of Corporate Communications Mr. Raphael Mworia. the KFS Commandant gave his presentation on intelligence and security of the forests its elements, function, process, cycle, uses and importance on KFS Mandate. He also had talked on uniforms for the Discipline Officers, Health and Hygiene for the KFS Staff.

Head of KFS Corporate Communication Mr. Raphael Mworia presented Communications and Media Saying it is important to communicate on forestry matters in order that the public can understand the KFS Vision and Mission in the new dispensation. He used very interesting Bible analogies of a lighted lamp which has to be put on a stand to shine but not a basket (Matthew 5:15). At the end the participants were happy to receive some items promised by the KFS Director when he opened the training on Wednesday 17/02/10 i.e Beret, Crown, Lanyard, and some officers got shoes and uniforms.

Introduction to Public Relations and Officer Role with emphasis on media jogged the mind of the participants to do personal value addiction by going beyond their job description to make a difference. They have to join some volunteer projects, identify problems, initiate solutions, learn something new every week/month, discover new ways to make a contribution, engage in active thought and deliberate for higher prize, derived recognition and contribution to humanity. To recognize, research and pursue opportunity and make a difference.
In the afternoon there were intensive practical exercises on handling firearms, and firing in different positions then at 6.30 p.m classes ended for officers to get ready for the following day.

Day 19: Thursday 25/02/2010
The participants assembled very early at 5.00 a.m for the physical fitness and morning run to the Nairobi-Mombasa highway and back to the drill ground. It was a day with a difference having competitions between the two squads where squad 1 won the relay, 100 metres running for all members. Each team member was to run against the clock and take their best time. For the second day running, the participants had to pick their rifles ready for parades and learning from 6.00 a.m

The day’s last lesson was on the origin of saluting. Salute as a symbol of greeting, of mutual respect, trust and confidence. It is also a sign of loyalty and respect to the service of which a member forms part and the general public for compliment.

Elizabeth Wambugu (centre) has distinguished herself as a sharp shooter.

Day 20: Friday 26/02/10
The morning run and physical exercises were excellent , but it was unfortunate one of the course participants dislocated his right leg ankle which prevented him from taking part in the muster parade and drill. The Muster Parade was excellent and the drill mood was upbeat with bass drum leading the march past in slow march. The sound of the bass drum made the drills very interesting and thrilling giving the participants mood for the pass-out parade by following the rhythm of the bass drum in slow and quick march.

Later, on law and penal code section 267-294 we were taught on handling stolen goods, theft and stealing. Theft is an offence, while stealing is and act, thus a person committing theft would be charged for having stolen the things in question. The class on self defense was interesting. It dealt with Tae-kwo-ndo giving compliment, boxing, punches, blocks and kicks which participants practiced with a lot of enthusiasm as part of martial arts.
The day ended well.

Day 21: Saturday 27th/02/10
The day was dedicated for personal administration and waiting the senior KFS Team to come and take measurement on Number One uniforms.

The team arrived at 11.00 p.m and unforms measurement were taken resulting to a significant reduction on the waist and bust measurement due to strenuous work-out the officers have undergone.

All officers were happy for having gotten the canestick (swagger stick) which symbolises authority. The significant reduction in weight, waist lines was the joke of the weekend. Most officers’ stomachs and waists had been trimmed to size because initially some officers were unable to belt up, put on socks and tie up their boots due to heavy investment on their public opinions!

Lunch time at the Emali Mess 

Day 22: Sunday 28th/02/10
Most of the officers explored Masimba and Emali town for haircuts and hair dos for the ladies as well as doing some personal transactions and shopping for the following week. In the evening, officers were happy with the course having covered the 50% of the course and looking forward for the countdown towards the passing out parade. Late in the evening area received heavy rains which extended late into the night.

Day 23: Monday 01/03/10
It was a blessing in disguise for it rained heavily from Sunday midnight to Monday at 11.00 p.m, affecting the morning run, physical exercises and Muster Parade. Officers woke up at 4.30 p.m and did their personal administration; some did some work out at their rooms to compensate the morning runs and physical training. After breakfast we headed straight to the lecture hall for day’s lessons. The first lesson was on map reading with the aim to equip the officers with the skills and ability to navigate across the country by the use of maps, compass, protractor and GPS. They were taught that a map is a graphic representation on a piece of ground drawn on a piece of paper to scale. The weather was very conducive and all officers were alert and contributed immensely due to their background on navigation in the forests, bush land, jungle and ways of retracing their camps.

On the faculty of law the officers were taken through statement taking which is very critical to our field work on arrest and prosecution and this is a confidential and official record of information a person can give concerning a matter under investigation.
The last lesson was on Military Parade which is a formation of solders whose movements is restricted, a public celebration, so that important people can examine them. At this juncture, the officers appreciated the importance of parade drills. We also learnt abot parade history, culture, custom and traditions.

Mr.J.Ndambiri , HOC North Eastern listens to a lecturer attentively

Day 24: Tuesday 02/03/10
The weather was very permissible and officers had to do the missed training almost in doubles for previous day (Monday) due to the rains. The participants missed the services of the instructor Sergent Sonkoi who had gone to Nakuru Lanet for Instructors’ Course. Muster Parade was done with a lot of thoroughness, inspecting the standing posture, dressing and shoe polishing which had improved greatly.

Drill parade followed with a lot of gusto following the Bass Drum beat being almost a replica of the pass out parade rehearsal. The lecture was on exhibits handling which is any object, a thing or a document produced in court as proof of a certain fact.

The last lesson was on Sword Drill. Sword is a traditional badge of rank and honor. Sword Drill is now used only in ceremonial and the two main qualities that should be pursued in sword drill are accuracy and graceful movement.

Day 25; Wednesday 03/03/10
The day started with high note, with gorilla physical exercises tactics imitating wild animal mode of movement for maneuvering purposes in forests. After the morning we had to imitate the frog, Kangaroo, monkey, cheetah in crawling, walking and jumping making it very interesting. We signed the arms at 6.00 a.m at this juncture, the arms were part and parcel of us to put it straight, the rifle is either one’s girlfriend or boyfriend all the time.

There was a lot of improvement in Muster Parade with officers maintaining high standards and discipline in terms of cleanliness, body posture, dressing and response to commands. After morning parade, platoon one did swagger-cane (cane stick) drill and platoon two were doing sword drill. Review of the drills was done by the C.O Mr. Mwaniki who appreciated and commended the officers for good display in drills for sword and cane stick drills and encouraged them to maintain the standard if they cannot improve on it up to the final day for pass out parade.

In the afternoon, the participants were divided into three syndicates to carry out map reading, navigation and tracing back to the college using Grind Reference. There were five points to be traced, opening the envelopes at the given point and proceeding to the next point with instruction to follow. Syndicate 1 were the first to trace back to college followed by syndicate 3 and the last syndicate was 2 which finished last with only five minutes difference which was highly competitive and a job well done. Officers were delighted to apply most of the physical exercises especially the gorilla maneuvers to navigate thorn bushes, fences, marsh areas and rugged terrain in Masimba and Emali direction of navigation.

Mr. Mibey, HOC Western Conservancy strikes a pose. 

Day 26: Thursday 04/03/10
The physical exercises and morning runs were enhanced to the required standards for the looming pass out parade. The weaponry class was the most impressive and thrilling lessons which hinged on the side of self protection using the pistols and revolvers. Photos and pictures were taken to be kept for record purposes. We also learnt about introduction to pistols and revolvers, their safety precaution, application to their use, how to strip, clean and assemble them all.

The drills on the Sword Parade for the platoons were majestically executed doing it gracefully and with a lot of confidence to display the status of power and authority. The afternoon class on sports organization kept the officers fully awake as different kinds of games were explained for recreation, leisure, promotion of KFS Image, competitions and Self Development to maintain healthy body status.

The biggest milestone in an officer’s life time was the simulated battle in the bush during which officers in their groups used rifles and blank ammunitions for practical purposes and firing like the real Rambo in the bush.