Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i confirmed that the nation has adopted effective strategies from the United Kingdom to manage security threats and reduce casualties. His remarks followed meetings with UK officials during a diplomatic visit focused on security cooperation.
Operational Improvements and Counter-Terrorism Successes ¶
Matiang’i cited the rapid response to the January 2019 DusitD2 attack in Nairobi as evidence of progress. Security forces, trained through UK-Kenya partnerships, saved over 700 lives during the incident. The UK has also assisted in disrupting smuggling networks, including luxury vehicle trafficking through Mombasa.
Strategic Security Dialogue and Funding Commitments ¶
Discussions with UK ministers Ben Wallace and Harriet Baldwin emphasized counter-terrorism and organized crime. Wallace noted the partnership’s role in addressing global security challenges, while Baldwin outlined a £30 million (Sh3.9 billion) funding initiative for African development projects. This includes training for Kenyan peacekeepers and support for free elections.
The funding, announced in February 2019, aligns with UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s 2018 pledge to strengthen military and economic ties with Kenya. It will also support climate change programs and regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Military Training and Long-Term Agreements ¶
The UK maintains a military training center in Nanyuki, the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk), which provides short-term capacity-building for African forces. A 2016 defense agreement worth Sh7.5 billion annually sustains this collaboration, focusing on counter-terrorism, wildlife protection, and humanitarian crises.
