On 21 November 2018, the United States military handed over 12 Bastion Armored Personnel Carriers to the Kenya Defence Force in a move aimed at strengthening border surveillance and troop protection.
The vehicles were received by Deputy Kenya Army Commander Major General Thomas Chepkuto during a ceremony held last week at Kahawa Barracks in Nairobi.
The donation comes as Kenya faces a rise in attacks blamed on Al Shabaab militants along the Kenya-Somalia border. The group has also relied on Improvised Explosive Devices, which have killed several soldiers and police officers in the country.
Colonel Kevin Balisky said the vehicles underscored Washington’s support for Kenya’s security interests. He said: “These vehicles represent the unwavering US commitment to Kenya and our shared national security interests. As the KDF continues to conduct daily operations against violent extremism, these vehicles will enhance the mobility and force protection of their troops in harm’s way. We are proud to be friends and partners with the KDF as they secure and develop peace in the border region,” said Colonel Kevin Balisky.
Balisky, who serves as the USA Defense Attache and a Senior Defense official in USA, also said American soldiers would provide three weeks of training to KDF operators on how to use the machines.
The handover came two months after President Uhuru Kenyatta and his USA counterpart Donald Trump agreed to deepen cooperation on defence and security. Their discussions included efforts to stop Al Shabaab attacks on Kenyan soil, which were linked to Kenya’s continued military presence in Somalia.
The two leaders also agreed to pursue more military equipment, with President Trump committing to further enhance KDF’s capabilities in the fight against the enemy.
