Kenya's defence minister in Egypt as KDF seeks partnerships

CAIRO, Egypt - In the company of senior officials from the Department of Defence, Kenya's Defence Secretary Aden Duale is in Egypt for a three-day official trip, in which the East African nation is seeking partnerships as it strengthens the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Among key issues in the trip is the urge to push for the implementation of the cooperation agreements on maritime and aerial security where Egypt is a major investor. The Egyptian delegation was in Nairobi a couple of months ago for the same discussion.

"The trip is aimed at reinforcing the strategic partnership between Kenya and Egypt and is expected to open discussions on a range of shared security concerns among them, the implementation of cooperation agreements on maritime and aerial security and opportunities for professional military academic institutions," Duale said.

Led by the Chair, Maj Gen (Rtd) Mokhtar Abdel Latif, the team toured the Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI), a conglomerate of different industries majoring in Military Equipment, Aviation Technology, Medicine, Renewable energy, Furniture and Transportation.

Duale is accompanied by the Deputy Director Defence National Security Industries Brig. Sylvester Chirchir, Col. James Njeru from the Defence Headquarters, Kenya Defence Attachee to Egypt Col. Emmanuel Ptiony and Lt Col. John Njoroge, Commanding Officer Construction battalion.

Egypt is closely monitoring investments in maritime security within East Africa, especially along the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Already, such discussion is going on between Mogadishu and Cairo, with Egypt reiterating its commitment to help Somalia defend its territory.

The discussions were enhanced when Ethiopia signed a controversial agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia which gives the country access to 20 kilometres of the Red Sea without consent by Somalia, in return for recognition of Somaliland as a state.

KDF is also a major security partner in Somalia, having been actively involved in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Kenya is also working closely with Somalia as they jointly flush Al-Shabaab from strategic regions along the border and deep inside Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE