Meet Five Most Powerful Special Units Within the Kenya Defence Forces ¶
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is one of the strongest militaries in Africa, with troops deployed in Somalia and DRC. The KDF comprises Kenya Army, Airforce, and Navy, and has a range of special units tasked with classified missions.
The Rapid Deployment Squadron (RDS) is the KDF's most elite Special Forces unit, founded to address new security challenges. The RDS trains both locally and internationally, mostly in the United States and Israel, and is known for rescuing kidnapped soldiers with precision.
The Special Boat Unit (SBU) is a top-tier unit of the Kenyan Navy, trained in battle medicine, navigation, boat handling, and ship boarding tactics. The SBU soldiers are trained with US Navy Seals in Virginia and Lamu.
The Long Range Surveillance (LRS) Unit is a covert unit of Kenya's defense forces, with heavy artillery throughout Eastern Africa. Soldiers in this unit are among the best-trained in the army, carrying out demanding and dangerous operations, including acquiring intelligence behind enemy lines.
The Special Operations Regiment (SOR) comprises the best soldiers in the KDF, trained to track down and kill targets. The SOR also boosts the security of foreign special guests and protects the Kenyan President, and is well-versed in Weapons, intelligence gathering, and battlefield medicine.
The 20th Airborne Special Ops Group has its headquarters based in Gilgil, and was formed through inspiration by the USA's 5th Airborne Special Operations unit. This unit was one of the KDF units that overpowered the Al-Shabaab militants to take over Kismayu.
