The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening defence ties with the United States following a high-level bilateral engagement focused on enhancing military capabilities, institutional development and regional security cooperation.
According to a statement issued by the KDF, the meeting brought together Chief of the Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri and a United States delegation comprising Commander of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) General Dagvin Anderson, Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard Major General Gary Keefe and the United States Defence Attaché to Kenya, Colonel Scott Polasek.
The KDF said the engagement reflected the strong relationship between the two countries, noting that “strong and enduring defence partnerships are built on mutual trust, shared strategic interests and sustained collaboration in developing capabilities to address evolving security challenges.”
During the meeting, the two sides discussed areas of mutual interest, including institutional capacity building, professional military education and cooperation in emerging security domains.
The discussions also centred on strengthening the operational effectiveness and long-term institutional development of the KDF through enhanced collaboration in key capability areas.
Among the priorities identified were support for the Kenya Defence Forces Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Academy, strengthening Special Operations capabilities and expanding cooperation in cybersecurity.
According to the KDF, the leaders also explored ways to bolster military engineering capabilities to support both defence operations and national development initiatives.
“The discussions underscored the importance of enhancing the KDF’s capacity to undertake infrastructure development, humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in support of national resilience,” the statement said.
Border security also featured prominently during the talks, with both delegations reaffirming their commitment to continued collaboration through training, technical exchanges and capacity-building initiatives.
The KDF said the two sides acknowledged that “closer cooperation and the exchange of expertise remain critical in addressing transnational security challenges and promoting regional peace and stability.”
The military said the engagement reaffirmed the enduring strategic partnership between Kenya and the United States, adding that both countries remain committed to advancing defence cooperation through sustained engagements, greater interoperability and the development of capable, professional and mission-ready forces.
