- Kenya is deepening defence talks with Egypt and Japan as it works to strengthen training, military capability and regional security
- Senior KDF commanders held strategic meetings on air defence, aviation safety, maritime readiness and joint technical programmes
- The engagements came only days after Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni warned of possible future conflict with Kenya over access to the Indian Ocean
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has intensified high-level consultations with two major global defence partners, Egypt and Japan.
Source: Twitter
According to KDF, the move is aimed at boosting military capability, strengthening training programmes, and enhancing regional security cooperation.
On Tuesday, November 11, Kenya Air Force Commander Major General Bernard Waliaula hosted Egypt’s Defence Attaché to Kenya, Colonel Ahmed Fathy, at the Kenya Air Force Headquarters.
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Is Kenya eyeing military cooperation with Egypt?
Their meeting centred on expanding military cooperation, with a particular focus on capability development through advanced training and technical collaboration.
According to KDF, the areas discussed included aviation safety, aviation medical services, aviation security, specialised Air Defence training, special operations, engineering programmes, and career progression courses.
Egypt is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most advanced military powers — especially in air defence — with layered defence systems, modern radar networks and extensive operational experience.
Business Insider Africa reported that Egypt has the most battle-ready airforce in the continent, boasting a 238 fighter-fleet. This makes Cairo a valuable partner for Kenya as it seeks to strengthen its own aerial defence capability.
Source: Twitter
Kenya meets Japan to boost naval cooperation
On the same day, Commander Kenya Navy Major General Paul Otieno received Japan’s Defence Attaché to Kenya, Commander Keiko Kawashima, for a courtesy visit at the Kenya Navy Headquarters in Mtongwe, Mombasa county.
Kawashima was accompanied by Noriko Kobayashi, the first secretary and head of political affairs at the Embassy of Japan in Nairobi.
Priority areas included joint training programmes, capacity building, information exchange, and enhancing maritime security across the Indian Ocean, a region where both nations share growing strategic interests.
“The visit was aimed at strengthening the defence and maritime relations between the Kenya Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Discussions focused on enhancing joint training programs, capacity building, information exchange and regional maritime security within the Indian Ocean,” KDF said in statement.
Otieno welcomed Japan’s support, noting that continued partnerships with technologically advanced navies like JMSDF would help build Kenya’s maritime readiness and response capabilities.
Following the talks, Kawashima and Kobayashi toured key naval facilities, including The Kenya Navy Hospital (TKNH) and the Kenya Naval Training College (KNTC), where they interacted with officers overseeing medical services and naval training.
Among those present during the visit were Brigadier Justino Muinde, the Chief of Naval Medical Services (CNMS), and Lieutenant Colonel Simon Mbuya, the deputy commandant of KNTC, alongside other senior KDF officers.
Did Museveni warn of future wars with Kenya?
Just three days ago, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni warned of future conflicts if landlocked states keep struggling to access the Indian Ocean.
Museveni argued that it is unfair for any country to claim the ocean as exclusive property, calling the current arrangement unreasonable for nations without direct sea routes for trade and defence.
He used a condominium metaphor to insist that all African states should share access, saying Uganda is “entitled” to the Indian Ocean, a statement that drew sharp public interest and concern.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
