Kenya is set to receive 16 U.S. manufactured helicopters to bolster its security operations and peacekeeping missions.
This assistance is part of the support extended to Kenya by President Joe Biden‘s administration following President William Ruto‘s state visit to Washington.
According to a statement released by the White House on Thursday, the delivery will include eight Huey helicopters designed to enhance regional peace and security, and eight MD-500 helicopters aimed at supporting Kenya’s participation in peacekeeping missions.
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, which are projected to arrive in Kenya by September 2024.
This substantial military aid package is intended to significantly strengthen Kenya’s defense capabilities.
To further fortify counterterrorism collaboration, the United States and Kenya have pledged to deepen their information-sharing efforts.
Kenya is in the process of joining Operation Gallant Phoenix, a program that facilitates multinational cooperation in sharing terrorist-related information.
This initiative is designed to enhance mutual capacity for collecting and using battlefield evidence in civilian criminal justice proceedings within a multiagency, multinational framework.
“These initiatives should help both countries better protect our borders and our citizens from terrorist actors,” noted the White House.
In a bid to enhance military training and capacity building between the two nations, the summer of 2024 will mark a significant milestone.
For the first time, candidates from the Kenya Defence Forces will begin courses at the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
This move builds on a long-standing tradition of Kenyan general officers benefiting from U.S. International Military Education Training courses.
The White House emphasized that this initiative will further strengthen the military ties and training cooperation between the United States and Kenya.
Moreover, the U.S. military currently has seven advisors in Kenya supporting Kenyan aviators.
For the first time, the United States is also providing a Strategic Logistics Advisor to Kenya’s Ministry of Defence.
This advisor’s role is to assist in enhancing logistical support and strategic planning within Kenya’s defense apparatus, further solidifying the military cooperation between the two countries.
These combined efforts underscore a deepening of the strategic partnership between Kenya and the United States, aimed at enhancing security, counterterrorism, and military training.
This collaboration is expected to bring significant benefits to Kenya’s defense capabilities and contribute to regional stability and security.
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