Dalya Wambui is excited after her return to Kenya.
Wambui, a Kenyan-born member of the 747th Military Police Company, attached to the 772nd Military Police Company, Massachusetts National Guard.
“I really can’t believe I’m here in Kenya again,” she told U.S. Army.
Born in Nairobi, Wambui is back in her home country, which is hosting exercise Justified Accord 2024, U.S. Africa Command’s largest military exercise in East Africa.
The 2024 exercise has more than 1,000 service members and units from 23 countries.
Wambui has been in the U.S. Since 2011 after emigrating from Kenya.
She says her mother made it possible for her to come to the United States.
“My mother went to the U.S. in 2009 and facilitated everything for me to join her two years later,” she said.
Wambui revealed the majority of her family is still in Kenya and has a military background.
“My grandmother was a regimental sergeant major in the Kenya Army, my dad was in the Kenya Navy and some uncles are still in the Kenya Army and Air Force,”
“However, my family’s military background isn’t the only reason why I joined the Guard right out of high school,” Wambui said.
She graduated from Abby Kelley Foster Charter School in Worcester, Mass.
in 2020 and instantly joined the National Guard.
In the army, she has previously been deployed to the Middle East.
Wambui was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2017 and last visited family and friends in Kenya in 2019.
“It’s one of the most surreal moments of my life. I feel like all the stars aligned, It’s like I’m the prodigal daughter returned home,” she said.
Due to the intense and vigorous training, Wambui will not be able to visit her family in Kenya.
She has been excited to train alongside the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
“It’s especially fruitful and fulfilling when the KDF needs further explanation on a topic, and I’m right there to step up and speak Swahili with them,”
“Not only do I speak their language, I’m one of them. I have a connection. In fact, a KDF Soldier made flattered me when he shared ‘yYou’rebuilding a bridge between two worlds,” she added.
