The United States government has donated state-of-the-art military protective equipment worth over Ksh220 million to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to help the country address rising security challenges.
In a statement sent to Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, the US military's Africa Command (AFRICOM) explained that the donation exemplifies the strong relationship between Kenya and the United States.
The 6,730 pieces of military equipment include soft body armour, ballistic helmets designed to protect against small arms fire and ballistic plates designed to withstand heavy ammunition.
According to AFRICOM, these advanced artillery will be essential for enhancing the security and effectiveness of the military personnel.
The equipment will also provide enhanced defence capabilities during peacekeeping operations.
While receiving the equipment on Tuesday, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Eastern Command, Major General Juma Mwinyika expressed his gratitude to the US government for the kind gesture.
"I can't overemphasise the goodwill that is here in this partnership. What is left is for us at the tactical and operational level is to do much more," he stated.
"At the strategic level, we have good support from the United States."
Additionally, Major General Kenneth Ekman at U.S. AFRICOM intimated that the American government prioritised KDF's request made to the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin during his visit to the country in September 2023.
"We are proud to complete this grant of protective equipment to our partners in the Kenya Defence Forces. This donation underscores the United States' commitment to supporting the security efforts of our international partners and fostering a free, open, and stable international order," he remarked.
"We're honoured 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."
He added that the United States remains committed to partnering with Kenya to promote security, prosperity, and the well-being of its citizens.
