Kenya Strikes Ksh12.5 Billion Military Deal with the UK
The Kenyan government has made a significant move by agreeing to purchase military equipment valued at Ksh12.5 billion from the United Kingdom, as revealed by a statement from the British government.
On Tuesday, the UK announced that the two nations have finalized a defence deal worth £70 million (equivalent to Ksh12.5 billion at current exchange rates). This agreement is part of a broader commitment to enhance collaboration in defence and counterterrorism efforts, which includes joint training initiatives and the establishment of a new centre focused on counterinsurgency, terrorism, and stability operations.
“Defence sales worth over £70m were agreed during the visit, supporting manufacturing jobs in County Durham, Northamptonshire and Surrey. Kenya hosts the UK’s most significant military footprint in Africa, including a facility that trains 3,000 UK troops a year,” the UK stated.
The biggest deal in the last ten years came after discussions between President William Ruto and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday, July 1.
Kenya and the UK have been partners in defense since Kenya gained independence in 1963, with various agreements, including the Bamburi Understanding from the 1980s, which was solidified by the establishment of the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).
In recent years, Kenya has primarily imported small arms and light weapons from the UK, without any significant acquisitions of heavy military gear like tanks, fighter jets, or naval ships.
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Recent data indicates that the UK’s military exports to Kenya are relatively modest, with the trade mainly consisting of small shipments of bombs, grenades, ammunition, and firearm components.
In 2017, one of the most significant acquisitions took place when the UK gave the green light for the export of 3,000 assault rifles to Kenya, a deal that was worth around £9.45 million, which translates to about Ksh168 billion at today’s exchange rates.
Alongside this, there were additional shipments that included pistols, sporting rifles, and various gun components. UN records show that in 2015, Kenya received at least 55 pistols, followed by another 15 handguns in 2017.
Fast forward to 2023, Kenya imported arms and related equipment from the UK valued at about Ksh10 million. This included roughly Ksh5 million spent on munitions like grenades and bombs, along with smaller amounts for gun parts and other minor weapons.
Then in May 2024, Kenya struck a deal with a UK-based company to provide modern military tools and machinery. This agreement will see the delivery of a range of items, including communication systems, weapons, and protective gear for soldiers.
Officials mentioned that this equipment is intended for use by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to better tackle both internal and external threats.
Kenya Strikes Ksh12.5 Billion Military Deal with the UK
