In accepting the award, General Opande dedicated it to Kenyan soldiers serving in peace support missions worldwide. The ceremony, held during Sierra Leone Armed Forces Day on February 18, marked the anniversary of the formal end of the civil war in 2002. General Opande is widely credited as one of the architects of that ending. In accepting the award, General Opande dedicated it to Kenyan soldiers serving in peace support missions worldwide. For Sierra Leone, the award serves another purpose.

Source: Daily Nation February 20, 2026 08:11 UTC