Kenya and the United States will sign a Defence Cooperation Agreement on Monday to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts in support of regional security interests.
The move is part of an effort to further strengthen defence and security cooperation in the face of escalating threats around the world.
The signing ceremony will be held at Kenya’s Defence Headquarters in Nairobi, where Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale will host his American counterpart Lloyd J. Austin III.
“The CS Defence (Kenya), Hon. Aden Duale, and the US Secretary of Defence, Lloyd J. Austin III, will sign a Defence Cooperation Agreement and then hold a joint press conference,” the MOD said on Saturday.
Kenya is a key US ally in the region, particularly in joint efforts to combat terrorism, such as the fight against Al-Shabaab, a Somali-based Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group.
Austin’s trip to Kenya is part of a week-long African tour that also includes stops in Djibouti and Angola from September 23 to September 28.
During his visit to Nairobi, Secretary Austin is expected to meet with Kenyan defence officials, with a primary focus on shared security interests and collaborative counterterrorism efforts, according to an earlier statement from the Department of Defence.
The visit aims to strengthen the United States’ and Kenya’s partnership in addressing regional security challenges.
Austin will meet with senior Djiboutian officials in Djibouti to discuss the two countries’ existing military cooperation.
The discussions will cover regional security dynamics as well as future opportunities for deeper collaboration.
The leg of the journey in Luanda, Angola, will prioritise the development of stronger defence relations and the identification of opportunities for increased military-to-military cooperation between the US and Angola.
Secretary Austin’s itinerary also includes stops in Djibouti and Kenya to meet with US military personnel stationed there.
The interactions, according to the DoD, will demonstrate the Department’s gratitude for these personnel’s dedication and service in promoting regional peace and security.
Austin’s visit to Kenya follows the United States-Kenya Bilateral Strategic Dialogue, which will be held on April 24, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
The U.S.-Kenya Strategic Partnership is grounded in mutual cooperation, respect, and a common vision for sustainable development.
The U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Alfred Mutua discussed strengthening the bilateral relationship across all five pillars of the Strategic Partnership and advancing peace and prosperity in Kenya, Africa, and beyond.
During the April event, the U.S. Department of State highlighted the commitment to implement instruments signed during the 2022 Bilateral Defence Forum, including a five-year security cooperation plan to enhance Kenya’s capabilities in countering violent extremist organisations and advancing regional security.
It also encompassed strengthening maritime surveillance and bolstering Kenyan military academic institutions.
“The United States commended Kenya for its role in enhancing stability in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The United States will, in support of these peace efforts, seek to increase the military aviation capabilities of the Kenya Defence Forces,” read the statement released by the US Department of State Office of the Spokesperson.
The two governments agreed to boost Kenya’s capabilities at the Kenyan Military Airfield in Manda Bay in order to combat Al-Shabaab and support the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.
The United States has committed to finishing the $5 million Counter Insurgency, Terrorism, and Stability Operations Centre.
