The United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) has donated personal protective equipment worth over Ksh.220 million ($1.38 million) to the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF)
The official handover ceremony took place at Kahawa Barracks in Nairobi on Tuesday, involving the transfer of 6,730 cutting-edge pieces of equipment. This comprehensive package includes soft body armor, ballistic helmets designed to provide protection against small arms fire, and ballistic plates engineered to withstand heavier ammunition.
The purpose of this equipment is to significantly bolster the safety capabilities of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel actively involved in ongoing counterterrorism and peacekeeping operations.
Addressing the audience, Major General Juma Mwinyika, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Eastern Command, expressed optimism about the substantial support the donation would provide to the Kenyan military in carrying out their essential mandates.
“I can’t overemphasize the goodwill that is here in this partnership. What is left for us at the tactical and operational level is to do much more. At the strategic level, we have good support from the United States,” he remarked.
Major General Kenneth Ekman from U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) emphasized that this grant underscores the United States’ commitment to strengthening the security efforts of its international partners.
“We’re honored to be able to fulfill one of the Kenya Defence Forces’ priority requests to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during his recent historic visit in September 2023, the first visit to Kenya by a U.S. Secretary of Defense in 47 years,” Ekman stated.
The United States reiterated its dedication to ongoing collaborative efforts with African partners to advance security, prosperity, and the well-being of people across the continent.
