Until 1970, Kenya was reported to have had the weakest military when compared to her Eastern African neighbours; Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.
The Daily Nation reported in December 2018, that Kenya at the time (1970s) was ranked last with 6,500 army personnel and 700 and 730 air force and navy personnel, respectively. The Para-military GSU had 1,800 men.
In terms of equipment, the country’s military was reported to be in possession of 3 Saladin and 10 Ferret armored vehicles; 16, 81mm and 8, 120mm mortars; 56 84mm recoilless guns, and 4 patrol boats each with 4.4mm Bofors guns.
In the skies, the country had 14 combat aircrafts including four Hunter FGA-9 ground attack fighters and five BAC-167 Strikemasters.
Time has gone past, however, and despite the huge secrecy that surrounds military operations in the country, in the year 1978, Kenya is reported to have brought in more warplanes to bolster the Kenya Airforce.
It was after the country's incursion into Somalia to fight the Al-Shabaab militia that the floodgates were opened.
Key amongst these included 12 MD530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters for the Kenya Air Force to replace its legacy MD500 aircraft. These were in addition to the acquisition of six Bell UH-1Y helicopters that the KDF had acquired from the U.S. military.
According to the Rotor and Wing Website, Kenya is by far the biggest military spender in the region and commands one of the best equipped and trained military forces in Africa.
The Daily Nation reported on September 21, 2019, that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) awarded a US firm a contract for the provision of logistical support, maintenance and pilot training for its fleet of six new MD 530 Cayuse Warrior helicopters.
The fleet, they reported, is part of a Ksh140 billion five-year deal awarded to the American firm MD Helicopters in September 2017 to provide up to 150 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters to foreign air forces via the US Foreign Military Sales program.
