In Summary:
- Kenya to receive 16 helicopters and 150 armored vehicles from the United States.
- The partnership aims to enhance Kenya’s security operations and peacekeeping missions.
Kenya is set to receive 16 U.S.-manufactured helicopters to enhance its security operations and peacekeeping missions.
This move is part of a broader support package from President Joe Biden’s administration following President William Ruto’s state visit to Washington.
A statement released by the White House on Thursday detailed that the 16 helicopters include eight Hueys to bolster regional peace and security and eight MD-500s to strengthen Kenya’s peacekeeping capabilities. The aircraft are expected to arrive in Nairobi between late 2024 and 2025.
In addition to the helicopters, Kenya will also receive approximately 150 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles from the U.S. Excess Defense Article stocks. These vehicles are projected to arrive in Kenya in September 2024.
To further enhance counterterrorism efforts, both nations have committed to deepening their information-sharing initiatives.
Kenya is in the process of joining Operation Gallant Phoenix, a program that promotes multinational cooperation in sharing terrorist-related information.
This initiative aims to build mutual capacity to collect and use battlefield evidence in civilian criminal justice proceedings within a multiagency, multinational framework.
In a statement, the White House emphasized, “These initiatives should help both countries better protect our borders and our citizens from terrorist actors.”
As part of efforts to strengthen military training and capacity building, the Kenya Defence Forces will, for the first time, have candidates starting courses at the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy in the summer of 2024.
This development continues a long tradition, with many Kenyan general officers having benefited from U.S. International Military Education Training courses.
The White House also noted that the U.S. military currently has seven advisors in Kenya supporting Kenyan aviators.
Additionally, the United States is now providing a Strategic Logistics Advisor to Kenya’s Ministry of Defence for the first time.