This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
Kenya's military has made significant strides in recent years, but a new report suggests that it has dropped in the global rankings. According to the 2020 Global Fire Power report, Kenya's military is ranked 12th most powerful in Africa, a drop from its 10th position in 2019.
The report, released on June 16, 2020, ranks Kenya's military 84th globally out of 138 modern militaries. The ranking is based on a unique score known as the 'Power Index', which takes into account multiple factors such as manpower, air-power, land forces, naval forces, natural resources, logistics, financials, and geography.
Kenya's military has a rating of 1.5287, with a perfect Power Index rating being 0.0000. The country has a total of 24,150 active military personnel, with a fleet of 150 aircraft, including 17 fighters, 20 for transport, 32 trainers, 2 special mission aircraft, and 79 helicopters.
On land, Kenya has 76 tanks, 479 armored vehicles, 30 self-propelled artillery, and 25 towed artillery. Its assets on water include 7 patrol vessels. The report also considers the logistical advantage offered by Kenya's 2 ports and terminals, as well as its airports, road network, and railway coverage.
Despite the drop in rankings, Kenya's military remains the most powerful among East African Community (EAC) member states. However, it was eclipsed by Ethiopia, whose military was ranked 7th most powerful in Africa and 60th in the world.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) tankers during a parade.
