Kenya has transformed the Manda Bay station into a full military base, marking a significant escalation in efforts to protect the $23 billion Lamu Port-South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor and coastal regions. The facility will now function as a coordination hub for maritime and land security operations.
President Uhuru Kenyatta emphasized the base's importance during a ceremony commemorating the Kenyan Navy's Presidential Regiment Colours. He stated, "Manda Bay serves as a critical listening and watching tower for Kenya, essential for safeguarding our national interests and the promise of the maritime domain." The upgrade aligns with Nairobi's commitment to securing the Boni area as an economic hub.
Launched in 2012, the Lapsset project aims to connect ports, railways, and roads across Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. While the Lamu port has completed its first berth, the initiative relies on cross-border security cooperation. The Manda Bay base, established under the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, now operates as Kenya's second naval base after Mtongwe.
The expansion comes amid preparations for an International Court of Justice ruling on October 12 regarding Kenya's maritime boundary with Somalia. Mogadishu has contested the border, seeking to redraw it north of Manda Bay. The base also played a pivotal role in Kenya's 2011 incursion into Somalia to combat al-Shabaab, culminating in the 2012 capture of Kismayu.
Kenya's navy highlighted the base's strategic value in maintaining sovereignty and maritime integrity. Recent efforts have eliminated piracy threats in the region, leading the International Maritime Organisation to remove Kenya from its piracy red list.
