The first-ever Kenyan Marine Commando Unit (KMCU) has made history by successfully completing its basic training, marked by a passing-out parade at Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa.
The KMCU will be an elite fighting force with the ability to conduct specialized amphibious operations to weaken and disrupt threats to Kenya and take the fight to al-Shabaab by land and by sea.
Ten British Marines from 40 Commando Royal Marines trained the KMCU over twelve weeks as part of a training program including physical fitness and amphibious assaults.
Potential recruits were selected from the Kenyan Military to undertake a rigorous training program.
The UK-funded obstacle course that was constructed at Mtongwe Naval Base is a nearly identical replica of the course used at the Royal Marine Commando training base in Lympstone, UK.
This first cohort of Marines has kick-started a self-sustaining training cycle, whereby the Kenyan Navy will eventually be able to train their own Marine Commandos.
This joint endeavor to create the Marine Commando Unit is an example of the UK and Kenya’s enduring commitment to building a strong, capable, and adaptable Kenyan Military that is already an anchor of regional stability and security.
The UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership is an ambitious five-year agreement delivering mutual benefits for the UK and Kenya, and keeping our people safe; it is underpinned by the Defence Cooperation Agreement that provides the framework for this training program.
The US Military is also an integral part of the creation of the KCMU by ensuring this specialist and formidable force is equipped to the highest standard.
British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriot said:
“The UK, Kenya the US stand shoulder to shoulder in the shared endeavor of countering Al Shabaab. This history-making partnership – the creation of the first-ever Marine Commando Unit – is a clear signal of our three countries’ enduring commitment to the Kenyan Military and to regional security.”
