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Nairobi-born sailor feted as one of the greatest in US Navy


He was raised in Nairobi and went to school in Maseno. Then, he didn’t know he would find himself serving in a blue-water navy. Actually, the biggest in the world.

Mr Kennedy Ogonda is being celebrated as one of the greatest sailors in the US Navy.

Mr Ogonda is a Petty Officer 3rd Class and was recently named the sailor of the day — an award that is given to navy personnel who exhibit outstanding performance or their duties and have exceptional military bearing.

Mr Ogonda is supervisor at the Aviation Boatswain’s Mates or the aircraft handling section that directs the movement and spotting of aircraft ashore and afloat. Here, he is charged with training junior sailors, with orders from senior navy commanders.

Kennedy Ogonda in the hangar bay of aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower. PHOTO | COURTESY
Kennedy Ogonda in the hangar bay of aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower. PHOTO | COURTESY

OUT AT SEA

“The award came as a big surprise to me. It is the first time I received it and I am very excited. The award is given to navy personnel when we are out at sea,” he said.

After Maseno School in 2001, Mr Ogonda moved to America and was enlisted in the US Navy in July, 2014.

It took him only two years to get the recognition that is envied by fellow servicemen and women.

“I was honoured. It showed that my actions were not going unnoticed by my chain of command. It encouraged me to keep working hard,” he said.

Mr Ogonda, in spite of being awarded individually aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, on July, 3, humbly said the achievement was made possible by the support of colleagues.

NOT A SUPERSTAR

“I am not a superstar. The US Navy is based on team work and I cannot claim to have been the sole reason for the success of any task. My colleagues are exceptional sailors who work hard every day to complete all tasks given to us,” he said.

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The award was presented to him by Commanding Officer Captain Paul Spedero at the Mediterranean Sea aboard the carrier.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first carrier to conduct sustained operations in the Red Sea and has recently been used in support of US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The IKE, as it is popularly known, and its Carrier Strike Group are deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theatre security cooperation efforts in the US 5th Fleet area of operations.

Captain Paul Spedero said Mr Ogonda has the complete trust of his leadership accomplishing any task without questions.

“Each task is completed with an unmatched diligence and attention to detail yielding outstanding results every time,” Capt Speeder said.