The United States and European Union picked Kenya to join Seychelles to prosecute maritime suspects along the Indian Ocean.
This is after a number of countries raised alarm over threats posed by Houthis rebels in Yemen and Somalia-based pirates.
According to the EU Naval Force, Kenya will join the war in assisting to handle the suspects due to the surge in the cases along the Coast threatening trade ties between many countries.
Spanish ambassador to Kenya, Christina Diaz stated that the attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels are a major cause of concern that need to be addressed promptly.
Her sentiments were echoed by Italian ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali who reaffirmed that the Houthi rebels have staged numerous attacks in the past three months, resulting in the rerouting of vessels along the Indian Ocean to a longer route through the Cape.
"Seychelles has played a key role in handling suspects arrested in the waters and now Kenya will be another country which EU has entered a legal agreement with to allow for the trial of suspected pirates arrested by warships," the ambassador stated.
Houthi rebels have caused devastating chaos in Yemen by seizing the northern part of the country, launching over 30 attacks on ships operating the Red Sea.
This has led to a ripple effect in the form of a surge in the prices of agricultural produce and basic commodities.
European Union's Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger reaffirmed that the EU's defensive maritime security operation (EU Navfor) will extend its mandate to areas where narcotics, human trafficking and other crimes are reported.
"EU Navfor Somalia managed to suppress piracy in its previous years but with the current operation Atlanta, the forces will work with different governments to address emerging piracy and the illegal group at the Suez Canal," the ambassador stated.
Armed forces from the United States, and the United Kingdom have received support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands to fight against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
This has been through the deployment of strikes against the Houthi-controlled areas.
"These strikes were designed to disrupt and degrade the capability of the Houthis to continue their attacks on global trade and innocent mariners from around the world while avoiding escalation," a joint statement by the US and other nations on January 24, 2024, read.
