Kenya has expanded the Manda Bay station into a full naval base, positioning it as a strategic hub to safeguard the Lamu Port-South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor and coastal territories. The facility will serve as a coordination center for maritime and land security operations, according to officials.
President Uhuru Kenyatta emphasized the base's role in protecting Kenya's sovereignty and economic interests, citing the $23 billion Lapsset project launched in 2012. "Manda Bay is an invaluable listening and watching tower for Kenya," he stated during a ceremony marking the installation of Presidential Regiment Colours to the Kenyan Navy.
The upgrade coincides with preparations for an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on October 12 regarding Kenya's maritime boundary with Somalia. Mogadishu has challenged Kenya's claim to waters near Manda Bay, a region historically critical for counterterrorism operations and regional stability.
The base, now the second Kenya Navy facility after Mtongwe, was established under the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. It has supported multinational efforts to combat piracy, leading to Kenya's removal from the International Maritime Organisation's piracy red list. Officials described the expansion as vital for "national, regional, and global security operations."
