Two Kenyans among fallen peacekeepers honoured by UN

Major Paul Ndungu Njoroge, who served with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), and Ms. Alice Wanjiru Chege, who served in a civilian capacity in the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), received the Dag Hammarskjold medal.

The Dag Hammarskjold medal was established in December 2000 as a posthumous award for members of peacekeeping operations who lost their lives during service under the operational control and authority of the United Nations.

The United Nations Secretary General António Guterres laid a wreath on Friday in honour of the nearly 4500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948.

“Unfortunately, as events of this very week remind us, peacekeepers continue to face peril in the cause of peace – and we pay the highest tribute to their service and sacrifice,” said Guterres.

According to the United Nations, Seventy-three Kenyan peacekeepers have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since the country first started contributing uniformed personnel to the United Nations in the 1980s.

The United Nations recognizes Kenya as the 27th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping.

Kenya currently contributes 440 peacekeepers, including 72 women, to 7 peacekeeping operations, in Abyei, Central African Republic, the DRC, India-Pakistan, Lebanon, Somalia and South Sudan.