| Military of Kenya |
|
|---|---|
| Service branches | Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force |
| Manpower | |
| Military age | 18 |
| Available for military service |
4,303,153, age 15–49 (2005 est.) |
| Fit for military service |
3,963,532, age 15–49 (2005 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually |
unknown (2005 est.) |
| Active personnel | over 63,000 |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $600 million (FY2009) |
| Percent of GDP | 1.8% (FY2008) |
The Kenya Defence Forces are the armed forces of the Republic of Kenya. The Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, and Kenya Air Force comprise the national Defence Forces. The current Kenya Defence Forces were established, and its composition laid out, in Article 241 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya. The President is the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces.
The military enjoys, in general, a good reputation. It is regularly deployed in peace-keeping missions around the world and generally commended for its professionalism. Further, in the aftermath of the national elections of December 2007 and the violence that subsequently engulfed the country, a commission of inquiry, the Waki Commission, commended its readiness and adjudged it to "have performed its duty well."[1] Nevertheless there have been serious allegations of human rights violations, most recently while conducting counter-insurgency operations in the Mt Elgon [2] area and also in the district of Mandera central.[3] Additionally, Kenya’s military, like many institutions in the country in general, has been tainted by allegations of corruption. Further, because the operations of the military have been traditionally cloaked by the ubiquitous blanket of “state security”, the corruption has been less in public view, and thus less subject to public scrutiny and notoriety. This has changed recently. In what are by Kenyan standards unprecedented revelations, in 2010, credible claims of corruption were made with regard to recruitment [4] and procurement of Armoured Personnel Carriers.[5] Further, the wisdom and prudence of certain decisions of procurement have been publicly questioned.[6]
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The period between 1896 and 1900 saw the East African Rifles deployed in a number of campaigns in line with British colonial policies. In collaboration with Major Cunningham's Uganda Rifles, expeditions were organized against the Nandi who put up a strong resistance. It was not until 1906 that they were subdued. Another one in 1900 commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hatch, Commandant of the East African Rifles, followed this. Two medals were issued after these expeditions namely “1898” and “Jubaland 1900”. The East African Rifles also sent troops to help Uganda Rifles suppress a mutiny by Sudanese troops in Uganda. Captain Harrison who led this expedition was decorated. After being deployed on this expedition, he remained behind to form the 1st Battalion of the Uganda Rifles. This battalion later became 5 KAR.
In 1901 the British government decided to organize all the existing troops in Central Africa, East Africa, Uganda and British Somaliland under one command. Lieutenant Colonel Manning, an officer in the Indian Corps was appointed Inspector General for all the troops and promoted to the rank of general. After the troops based in different parts of British East and Central Africa territories were placed under a central command, the regiment born thereof was officially designated “King's African Rifles” on 1 January 1902. The composition of this regiment was as follows:-
On 1 April 1902, 3 KAR moved its headquarters from Mombasa to Nairobi, and together with 4 KAR and 5 KAR, was used by the British colonial government in expeditions against those who resisted British rule. In 1904 5 KAR, which was mainly made up of Indian troops, was disbanded chiefly because of maintenance costs and also because the British felt they had contained the resistance to their rule. This was however reconstituted in 1916 during World War I and stationed in Meru.
Later in 1926, 5 KAR was again disbanded and their colours were handed over to 3 KAR for safe custody. On 1 March 1930 the Unit was once again reconstituted, presented with their colours and stationed in Nairobi . After World War II both battalions were used by the colonial government to contain the Mau Mau rebellion. On the dawn of independence the Kenya National Assembly passed a bill (Kenya Bills 1963) to amend the status of the military forces in Kenya . Accordingly, the former units of the King's African Rifles were transformed to the Kenyan Military Forces and the Independent Kenyan Government was legally empowered to assign names to the units as deemed necessary with effect from the midnight of 12 December 1963. Thus 3 KAR and 5 KAR became 3 Kenya Rifles and 5 Kenya Rifles respectively. 3 KAR, which was the forerunner of today's Kenyan Army, was formed on 1 January 1902. The transformation of King's African Rifles to Kenya Military Forces on the midnight of 12 December 1963 is a major milestone in the foundation of today's Kenya Army units.
The Ministry of State for Defence, just like that of Internal Security and Provincial Administration, is part of the vast office of the President docket. All but senior military officers are appointed, promoted, and, if necessary, removed by the military's professional personnel system. The president appoints and retires senior military officers. With the authority of the president as commander-in-chief, the minister of defence presides over the National Defence Council. The chief of general staff is the tactical, operational and administrative head of the military. Under the 2010 constitution, the defence forces can no longer be deployed for combat operations within Kenya without the approval of Parliament
In October 2011, in a coordinated military operation with the Somalian military, troops from Kenya crossed the border into southern Somalia in pursuit of Al-Shabaab militants that are alleged to have kidnapped several foreign tourists and aid workers inside Kenya.[7][8] The incursion was reportedly spearheaded by Kenya's Minister of Defence, Mohamed Yusuf Haji.[7]
The army's organisation consists of two armoured brigades, four infantry brigades, one engineer brigade, one armoured reconnaissance battalion, three artillery battalions, three engineer battalions, one independent air cavalry battalion with 35 armed helicopters (Embakasi), five infantry battalions, one parachute battalion and one ranger battalion for low-intensity warfare.
The official Ministry of State for Defence lists the following Army formations and services:[9]
Ranger D Company of 20 Parachute Battalion is the only commando unit in the Kenyan Army trained to fight terrorist activities by the US through Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and its predecessors. Main tasks include reconnaissance, raids, ambushes, infiltration and border patrol in joint operations. The unit was deployed for counter insurgency operations in the Mt Elgon area in 2008 amid accusations of torture and illegal detention.[10]
The acquisition of T-72s has caused significant controversy. Thirty-three vehicles ordered from Ukraine were hijacked by Somali pirates.[11] The ship they were been carried in, MV Faina was released and the tanks unloaded in the port city of Mombasa in February 2009. There have been doubts expressed as to whether the T-72s imported by Kenya are intended for use by the Kenyan Army. Instead, popular opinion is that they were being clandestinely imported for the southern Sudanese army, which has an arms embargo against it.[12] The Kenyan military has dispelled speculation by publicly showing these tanks (and other hardware) as part of its arsenal on 22 August 2010, during rehearsals for the passing of the new Constitution of Kenya.[13] Nevertheless a cloud of doubt will persistently hang over the initial intent of this acquisition. Recent revelations by Wikileaks provide that "it is a badly kept secret" that there has been an ongoing process of armaments purchases on behalf of the Southern Sudanese government by the Kenyan government.[14] The leaks go on to speculate that these clandestine operations were motivated by the Kenya political leadership's desire to support Southern Sudan, but not in a way that would openly provoke Khartoum or potentially threaten South Sudan's eventual independence.
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vickers Mk3 | Main battle tank | 76 | United Kingdom | 105mm gun |
| Vickers ARV | Recovery tank | 7 (4 with crane) | United Kingdom | |
| T-72 | Main battle tank (equipped with Kontakt-1 ERA) | 110 | Ukraine | 125mm gun |
| BTR-60 | Wheeled amphibious armoured personnel carrier 8x8 | 3 | USSR | |
| Panhard AML | Light armoured car | 72 | France | AML-60\90 60 Mortar\90mm Gun 4x4 |
| Panhard M3 | Armoured personnel carrier | 15 | France | In store 4x4 |
| Ferret armoured car | Wheeled armoured fighting vehicle | 20 | United Kingdom | |
| Saladin armoured car | Wheeled 6x6 | 10 | United Kingdom | FV601 76.2mm gun |
| Shorland armoured car | Armoured car | 8 | United Kingdom | |
| Saracen | 6x6 APC FV-603 | 15 | United Kingdom | Out of service ? |
| BRM | Armoured personnel carrier | 85 | USSR | |
| WZ551 | Armoured personnel carrier | 35 | China | |
| Humvee | APC 4x4 | 100 | United States | |
| Thyssen Henschel UR-416 | Armoured personnel carrier | 52 | Germany | |
| Land Rover Defender | ??? | United Kingdom | ||
| Mercedes Benz LA-911 | Trucks | Germany | ||
| Steyr Sinotruck | Troop carrier truck | Initial Delivery 400 | China | |
| ACMAT | 4.20 4x4 | 6.20 6x6 trucks | France | |
| MAC | AFV Transporters | United States | ||
| Grider | Medium bridges | United Kingdom | ||
| PUMA M26-15 | MRAP | Initial Delivery 100 | South Africa | |
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
| Heckler & Koch G3A3/4 | Assault rifle | 50,500+ | Germany | |
| Heckler & Koch PSG1 | Sniper rifle | 20+ | Germany | |
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Submachine gun | Germany | ||
| Heckler & Koch HK21A1 | GPMG | Germany | ||
| Browning HP-35 | Handgun | Belgium | ||
| Sterling submachine gun MK-IV | United Kingdom | |||
| AK-102 | Assault rifle | Russia | ||
| AK-101 | Assault rifle | Russia | ||
| AK-47 | Assault rifle | 40,000 plus | USSR\Russia | Kenya Police |
| FN FAL L-1A1 | Battle rifle | Belgium/United Kingdom | ||
| Saco M60 | GPMG\LMG | 17 | USA | |
| Steyr MPi-69 | SMG | Austria | ||
| Colt M16 \ M4A1 | AR | 10,000 plus | United States | |
| FN Herstal M249 SAW | LMG | 5,000 | USA/Belgium | |
| Barrett M107/Barrett M82 sniper rifle | Anti-material rifle with AN/PVS-10 day/night optics | 10+ | United States | |
| IMI Galil-SR | AR | Israel | ||
| IMI Uzi | SMG | Israel | ||
| IMI Negev | LMG | Israel | ||
| FN MAG-60-20 Infanterie T.7\ L7A2 | LMG | Belgium\United Kingdom | ||
| AAT-52 7.62N F.1 Char No.1 | LMG | France | ||
| Browning M1919A-4 \ L3A3 | MMG | United States\United Kingdom | ||
| Browning M2HB | HMG | United States | ||
| Bren MK-II \ MK-III(L4A4) | LMG | United Kingdom | ||
| M79 | GL | United States | ||
| PK machine gun | General purpose machine gun | USSR | ||
| Bofors 40mm L/70 | Autocannon | 13 | Sweden | |
| Mistral | MANPAD | 60 | France | |
| Short Tigercat | SAM | 10 Launchers\ 30 missiles | United Kingdom | Out of service ? |
| Rapier | SAM | United Kingdom | ||
| SA-11 BUK1M | SP-SAM | USSR\Russia | Reported | |
| Oerlikon GDF-002 | 2x35mm AAG | Switzerland | ||
| Oerlikon 20 mm cannon | Autocannon | 11 | Switzerland | |
| ZPU-4 | Anti-aircraft gun | 70 | USSR | |
| TCM-20 | Anti-aircraft gun 2x20mm | 70 | Israel | |
| M55 Quad mount | Anti-aircraft gun 4x12.7mm | United States | ||
| Carl Gustav recoilless rifle | recoilless rifle | 80 | Sweden | |
| Wombat BAT-4 | 120mm RCL | 6-14 | United Kingdom | Out of service |
| MILAN | Anti-tank | 40 Launchers\ 400 missiles | France | |
| Swingfire | Anti-tank | 14 Launchers\100 missiles | United Kingdom | |
| RPG-7V | Rocket-propelled grenade | USSR | ||
| OTO Melara Mod 56 | Pack Howitzer | 8 | Italy | |
| L118 Light Gun | Towed Howitzer | 40 | United Kingdom | |
| L16 81mm Mortar | Mortar | 50-60 | United Kingdom | |
| 120mm mortar | Mortar | 12 | Finland | |
| BM-21 Grad | Multiple rocket launcher | 41 | USSR | |
| 2S7 Pion | 203mm SP-GUN | 6-25 | Russia\USSR | |
| Nora B-52 | Self-propelled artillery | 30 | Serbia |
| Name | Type | Variant | Quantity [15][16] | Origin | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northrop F-5 | Fighter aircraft | F-5 Tiger II
F-5F |
18
4 |
United States | Serviceability unknown[Note 1] | |
| DHC-5 Buffalo | Tactical transport | DHC-5D | 7 | Canada | Since 1977 to 1986. 12 Delivered. | |
| DHC-8 Dash 8 | Transport | DHC-5D | 3 | Canada | Since 1990 | |
| Fokker 70 | Presidential/VIP Transport | F70 | 1 | Netherlands | Since 1995 | |
| Harbin Y-12 | Utility transport | Y-12 | 12 | China | Since 1999,one crashed in Marsabit | |
| Piper PA-31 Navajo | Light trainer | 10 | United States | Sold | ||
| Scottish Aviation Bulldog | Trainer | Bulldog 103 Bulldog 127 |
3
2 |
United Kingdom | 13-14 delivered | |
| Shorts Tucano | Trainer | Tucano | 11 | United Kingdom | 12 delivered since 1990 | |
| Aérospatiale Puma | Transport helicopter | SA 330G | 12
9 |
France
Romania |
Since 1977, 9 built by Industria Aeronautică Română | |
| Ulan-Ude Mi-171 | Utility helicopter (military transport, medical evacuation) | Mil 171 Hip-H | 3 | USSR | Delivered in late 2010 and operated by Kenya Air Force. One crashed 5 April 2011 | |
| Aérospatiale Gazelle | Utility helicopter | SA 342 | 1 | France | Since 1979 | |
| MD 500 | Utility helicopter
Scout helicopter Attack helicopter |
MD 500M
MD 500MD MD 500MD/TOW |
10
15 35 |
United States | Since 1979 these helicopters are actually operated by the Army's 50th cavalry battalion at Embakasi military base. The air force operates transport and other utility helicopters. | |
| Harbin Z-9 | Utility helicopter
Attack helicopter |
Z-9
Z-9W |
4
4 |
China | Z-9W delivered Jan 2010[19] | One crashed 17 Oct 2011 in Liboi |
The Kenya Navy is composed of:
The equipment of the Kenya Police and General Service Unit (GSU) a paramilitary wing of the Kenyan Police comprises:
The Kenyan Armed forces include about 63,000 personnel, including the army (55,000), the navy (2,500), the air force (5,000), and MOD headquarters staff (200). A number of Kenyan military personnel participate in international peacekeeping operations in war torn countries under the auspices of the United Nations. In 2000, women were integrated into the regular units of the military, and the Women's Service Corps disbanded. During the recent referendum activity the Kenya government deployed over 79,000 security personnel who included police,gsu,kws,national youth servuice,forest rangers and other specialist units on 4th August 2010.
In addition to the armed forces, Kenya employs up to 40,000 police and paramilitary personnel. The Kenya Police, which report to the Commissioner of Police in the office of the president, field about 60,000 officers. The General Service Unit (GSU) initially known as the Kenya Police Emergency Company, was established by the colonial government to battle Mau Mau freedom fighters during the fight for Kenya's independence. It now has around 9,000 paramilitary of which 2000 are Israeli trained and battle hardened (Recee group) that forms most of the Presidential guard,VIP and Diplomatic protection.
In addition, Administration Police (AP) 47000 report to local District Commissioners, who in turn report to the office of the President.We also have the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)a state corporation paramilitary wing responsible with wildlife conservation and general protection,it consists of the trap unit,air wing unit,anti-poaching unit,scout unit,wildlife intelligence unit,wildlife protection unit and of late dog unit.It is a well trained wing that can easily surbodinate the military for guerilla warfare following the nature of their work in the wild environment,it is headed by the Director of the Kenya Wildlife Service.Last but not least we have the Kenya Forest Service rangers(KFS)a paramilitary unit that protects the forests of this country.
Finally, the National Youth Service (NYS), which is administered by the office of the president, provides some paramilitary training to young job trainees and are about 2500. Other forces include the Kenya Prisons with about 16,000 personnel. Military service is fulfilled by voluntary enlistment, generally for a period of nine years. However due to the present dismal economic situation, annual recruitment of new constables in all the military is not more than 2000 personnel. Kenya's armed forces combat worthiness against an opposing organised military in the field remains untested since independence.
In 1998, a new act of Parliament in Kenya established the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) to replace the former Directorate of Security Intelligence which was commonly known as the "Special Branch" and which was part of the Kenya Police Department [4]. The NSIS brief, like all other intelligence organisations, is to gather and exploit secret information. It identifies conditions that threaten Kenya's political, economic and social stability. It subsequently develops opportunities and strategies to neutralise such threats. The Current NSIS boss is Maj-Gen Michael Gichangi
In May 1999, President Daniel arap Moi appointed retired Brig. Wilson Bonett to head NSIS whose intelligence gathering work includes: internal, external and strategic intelligence. NSIS is divided into seven sections:
It changed name and relocated from its notorious Nyati House offices to new headquarters on the outskirts of the city, near the Windsor Golf and Country Hotel. As the Director general of NSIS, Retired Brig. Boinet is the principal advisor of the President on matters relating to national security. In April 1999, the Moi government appointed Mrs Pamela Mboya, the former Permanent representative to the Habitat, to head a Committee that was charged with formulating a scheme of service for NSIS officers. Security of tenure given the director of NSIS is designed to protect him from such abuse by members of the governing elite. He has the opportunity to say 'no' to any unlawful or sectarian instructions from his bosses without fear of losing his job.
Officials of the new Intelligence body are:
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