Kenya and US on Monday signed a defence framework for the two countries to continue working together in counterterrorism operations.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin presided over the event at Defence headquarters in Nairobi.
Duale said the framework covers 2023-28 and marks a significant milestone in bilateral commitment to peace and stability in the region.
“We share commitment to democracy and stability at large,” he said.
“The framework places a special emphasis on enhancing military interoperability between our two militaries. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, our ability to work seamlessly together is paramount.”
He said the cooperation will enable both countries to respond effectively to the ever-evolving security challenges in the region and beyond.
Duale said Kenya has long been a contributor to international peacekeeping efforts.
“The framework ensures that we receive the support and resources necessary for our operational deployments. In this respect, we remain committed to contributing to global peace and security,” the CS said.
He said the discussions opened up avenues for exploring and expanding cooperation in the fields of defence technology and innovation.
"This framework is a symbol of our shared vision for a better tomorrow. Both Kenya and the United States are driven by a common purpose, and together, we will navigate the challenges that lie ahead,” he said.
Austin said the signing reinforces the importance of the strategic partnership between Kenya and the US.
“It will guide our bilateral relationship for the next five years. I look forward to other meeting with President Ruto to discuss further partnerships,” he said.
Austin said the US values the role Kenya is playing in regional and international efforts to ensure stability.
He said the US will provide Sh14.5 billion to the Kenya Police-led peacekeeping effort in Haiti.
Austin said the Biden administration was keen on ensuring that the police mission is successful.
The support will include logistics, intelligence, communication, and medical assistance.
“We are appealing to other countries to join Kenya’s example by providing all that is needed to ensure stability in Haiti,” Austin said.
He said they are waiting for the UN Security Council to approve the plan to deploy police in Haiti.
On Somalia, he said the military is making significant progress in containing al Shabaab. He said, however, the authorities need to do more in empowering the civilian locals.
Austin said Somali forces have made “impressive progress” in the fight against al Shabaab but cautioned that the terror group still can “export terror from ungoverned spaces”.
“I think they [Somali forces] made more progress in the last year than was made in the previous five years,” he said.
Austin met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Djibouti on Sunday as part of his first visit to the African continent as Defence Secretary.
Somalia’s army and allied clan militias have continued to drive al Shabaab fighters out of central Somalia as part of the country’s military offensive since the president declared “total war” against the militants in August 2022.
But terrorists continue to strike at Somali forces, with a truck bombing near a security checkpoint in the central Somali town of Beledweyne killing 21 people and wounding 52 others on Saturday.
Recent violence has led Somali officials to seek a 90-day delay in the scheduled drawdown of African Union peacekeepers to account for what the Somali government calls “several significant setbacks”.
About 3,000 African Union forces are expected to withdraw from Somalia by the end of this month, with all African Union forces set to withdraw by the end of next year.
Pulling support for Somalia too early, or not devoting enough resources to countering Islamic extremists in Africa, could allow terror groups to overrun the country much like the Taliban did while the US was withdrawing its military forces there, officials say.
