Service members from Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) joined the United States ambassador to Kenya to dedicate a kindergarten school in Dadaab, Kenya on November 19, 2008.

Ambassador Michael E. Rannenberger visited the eastern coastal village to meet with students, school administrators and village leaders. During the dedication ceremony, Rannenberger addressed the local media and community.

"Today we are inaugurating a new primary school that has been rehabilitated by the United States military. This is very important; we wanted to assist the local community of Dadaab with their needs. Dadaab has been wonderful hosting the people in the camps, but the people of Dadaab also need help and that is why we are here today," Rannenberger said.

U.S. Army civil affairs teams facilitated the project by reaching out to local contractors for labor and materials. The $30,000 building is not the only project the U.S. government is working on in the area.

"This is also part of a broader effort that the United States government is making in the whole province of Northeast. We are active in many projects to assist the welfare of the communities of this province," Rannenberger said.

"We know they are affected by issues across the (Somali) boarder. We know they are affected by issues of lack of economic development. We know many communities have been marginalized and we want to assist the people in those efforts. We want to say the United States government is going to continue to stand by the people in these communities and help them with their needs."

CJTF-HOA works in conjunction with partner nations, the U.S. Department of State, and nongovernmental organizations to promote security and stability throughout the Horn of Africa.