Kenya Army

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Kenyan Army
Jeshi la Nchi Kavu
File:Seal of the Kenya Army.png
Coat of arms of the Kenya Army
Founded1964
CountryFile:Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya
Part ofKenya Defence Forces
HeadquartersWaterworks Camp, Hurlingham, Nairobi, Kenya[1]
Motto(s)"Ngao Ya Taifa"
Engagements
Websitemod.go.ke/kenya-army/
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Dr William Ruto
Commander, Kenya ArmyLieutenant General David Kimaiyo Tarus
Insignia
FlagFile:Flag of the Kenyan Army.svg

The Kenya Army is the land arm of the Kenya Defence Forces.

History

The origins of the present day Kenya Army can be traced back to the British Army's King's African Rifles.[2] In the last quarter of the 19th Century, the British began actively enforcing the abolition of the slave trade in East Africa. Concurrently, other European nations were establishing spheres of influence in Africa. To safeguard British interests, the Imperial British East Africa Company was established. As these interests developed and expanded, a more formidable force became necessary, (to safeguard these interests and expansion), leading to the creation of the first British land forces in Kenya. In June 1873 the Sultan of Zanzibar, Barghash bin Said of Zanzibar, signed the final treaty to abolish slave trade throughout his territories.[3] Enforcing the abolition became the task of the Royal Navy; within three weeks Admiral Arthur Cumming, Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, arrived at Zanzibar.[3] In 1877 a Royal Navy officer, Lieutenant Lloyd Matthews, serving on HMS London formed a small force of 300 Zanzibaris to combat the slave trade. In 1878 Lieutenant Matthews was given leave to serve under the Sultan who appointed him Brigadier General in command of the newly established force. By 1880 the force had grown to 1300 men who were all armed with Snider rifles donated to the Sultan by the British Government. On 8 September 1888 the Imperial British East Africa Company was granted a royal charter and was charged with the responsibility of administering British East Africa on the lines of a Crown colony. In 1893 the three-year contract with the Indian contingent came to an end. During the same period the company was experiencing serious financial problems that had led to the abandonment of Uganda and Jubaland in fact, the company could barely police the coast. The then British Consul in Zanzibar, Sir Arthur Hardinge, notified the Foreign Office of his intention of taking over East Africa from the company. The British government accepted. On 1 July 1895 a British protectorate was declared over all the areas previously administered by the company. The company troops were subsequently reorganized under Captain Hatch. In August 1895 the British government sanctioned the establishment of a force composed of 300 Punjabi, 300 Swahili, 100 Sudanese, and 200 soldiers from various ethnic groups in the region. This force was renamed the East African Rifles and was formed from the former Imperial British East Africa Company force in Mombasa (Fort Jesus). Before the Second World War, British colonial forces in Kenya, the now-King's African Rifles, in the main, were small:[4]

There was no conscription and the army was extremely selective, recruiting soldiers from ethnic groups with supposedly inherent military qualities, the so-called "martial races." In the 1920s and 1930s, martial races included the Kamba, Kalenjin, and Somali, pastoral semi-pastoral groups from impoverished regions. In contrast, Kikuyu and Meru of central Kenya were hardly found in the army. The Second World War brought a massive expansion of military personnel. From an interwar strength of less than 1,000 men, the armed forces increased to 75,000 by 1943. Thus, every tenth adult man was serving in the military, representing about 20 percent of the wage labor force. The huge demand for able-bodied and skilled men was met by extending the recruitment pool to communities the British did not consider martial. Additionally, the military offered wages above civilian levels. In 1941 the pay ranged between 17 and 60 shillings per month for a newly trained private in the East African Military Labour Service and East African Army Service Corps respectively, whereas civil wages for unskilled labor averaged between 8 and 12 shillings.22 The military offered additional pulls such as uniforms, housing, food, professional training, and promotion.

File:African Troops in Burma during the Second World War SE1884.jpg
Troops of 11th (East Africa) Division on the road to Kalewa, Burma, during the Chindwin River crossing

As part of the King's African Rifles, indigenous soldiers from Kenya Colony fought in several campaigns during World War II. They fought against the Italians in Italian East Africa during the East African Campaign, against the Vichy French in Madagascar during the Battle of Madagascar, and against the Japanese in Burma during the Burma Campaign. Initially, the KAR was deployed as the 1st East African Infantry Brigade and the 2nd East African Infantry Brigade. The first brigade was responsible for coastal defence and the second for the defence of the interior. By the end of July 1940, two additional East African brigades were formed, the 3rd East African Infantry Brigade and the 6th East African Infantry Brigade. Initially a Coastal Division and a Northern Frontier District Division were planned, but, instead, the 11th African Division and the 12th African Division was formed.

The two divisions included East African, Ghanaian, Nigerian, and South African troops. A Nigerian brigade, together with two East African brigades (the King's African Rifles brigades) and some South Africans, formed the 11th African Division. The 12th African Division was similarly formed, but with the Ghanaian brigade instead of the Nigerian brigade. The 11th African Division was disbanded in November 1941 and the 12th African Division was disbanded in April 1943. In 1943, the 11th (East Africa) Division was formed and it fought in Burma. In addition, two independent infantry brigades were sent from East Africa to India for service in Burma. The 22 (East Africa) Infantry Brigade served in the Arakan under command of XV Indian Corps, while the 28th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade served under IV Corps, playing a crucial role in the crossing of the Irrawaddy River.

Mau Mau Uprising and independence

The KAR fought against the Mau Mau rebels under the command of British officers in the 1950s and on the side of loyalist Kenyans and those who advocated a peaceful transition to independence, such as Jomo Kenyatta. KAR battalions listed included 3 KAR (Kenya), 4 KAR (Uganda), 5 KAR (Kenya), 6 KAR (Tanganiyka), 7 & 23 KARs (Kenya), 26 KAR (Tanganyika).[5] As stipulated in the Kenya Military Forces (Naming of Units) Order 1964, 3 Battalion KAR, 5 Battalion KAR, 11 Battalion KAR, three attached training companies, Headquarters 70th (East African) Infantry Brigade, 1 Signal Squadron, 91 General Transport Company, workshops, and a variety of other Combat service support units were handed over to the new Kenya Army during the process of independence for Kenya in December 1963 and January 1964.[6] Kenyan authorities quickly began considering a parachute capability. "On October 14, 1964, the first batch of 40.. were sent to Britain for Parachute Basic Training course" at RAF Abingdon.[7] Similar numbers ..followed until about 200 Kenyan troops qualified to form the 1st Independent Parachute Company on April 24, 1965." In 1977 (probably during the Ogaden War) a Somali force crossed the border into northern Kenya. The same year Kenya placed an order with Vickers Defence Systems in the UK for 38 Vickers Main Battle Tank Mark 3 main battle tanks plus three armoured recovery vehicles (ARVs) which were all delivered by 1980, forming Kenya's initial tank battalion.[8] Another order was placed in December 1980 for a further 38 Mark 3s, plus four ARVs, which were all completed at the works, if not delivered, by December 1982. After Kenya invaded Somalia in Operation Linda Nchi in 2011, 6 Brigade became "fully fledged" in 2012. 6 Brigade was installed on the outskirts of Garissa town after Modika Barracks there was "launched" by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday 13 December 2019. Also moved there from Embakasi in Nairobi was 17 Kenya Rifles ("One Seven"). The other battalions of the brigade were 19 KR at Nyali Barracks just north of Mombasa and 21 KR at Mariakani Barracks.[9] By 2021, the International Institute for Strategic Studies listed 31 Type-92 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 105 South African PUMA M26-15 Protected patrol vehicles in service.[10] On 1 May 2021, The Nation wrote that about 1,600 Army troops drawn from 20th Para, 30 Special Forces, and the Long Range Surveillance unit of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, would be dispatched to serve with MONUSCO [in the Democratic Republic of the Congo], with second rotation replacements coming from "the American-trained 40 Rangers Strike Force (40RSF), the Special Boat unit of the Kenya Navy and the Clearance Diving Unit," while the "newly formed Marine Commandos" also expected to be sent at some point. Congolese President Tshisekedi said "Kenya will voluntarily be part of the Rapid Intervention Brigade." The Kenyan contingent was "expected to replace South African troops.. and will be working alongside soldiers from Nepal." "A majority of the Kenyan soldiers will be part of MONUSCO."[11]

Peacekeeping missions

Kenya Army involvement in international peacekeeping, Peace Support Operations was first considered in 1973. That year the United Nations requested Kenya to contribute forces to UNEF II which was to separate Israel and the Arab states after the October War. Though Kenya acceded to the UN request, the troops were not deployed. Kenya's first actual participation in Peace Support Operations was in 1979, when the Commonwealth requested the Republic of Kenya to contribute troops for the Commonwealth Monitoring Force in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The Monitoring Force supervised the arrival and cantonment of the rebel Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army and Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) forces, and included 51 Kenya Army personnel under Colonel Jack Munyao who ran one of the 14 Assembly Points.[12] Subsequently, the Kenya Army contributed officers towards operations in Chad in 1982 on the request of the Organization of African Unity. In 1989 the Army sent military observers and an infantry battalion to the United Nations Transitional Assistance Group (UNTAG) in Namibia. Kenya has ranked number 6 out of the 90 countries who contribute military and civilian police to the UN operations. Since 1989, Kenya has contributed military observers, staff officers, civilian police monitors, and infantry troops to various missions.[2][13] Force commanders, chief military observers, and chiefs of staff have also been sent to the following UN and African Union missions:

A varierty of senior personnel have also served with the related warfighting mission AMISOM in Somalia. To date, Kenyan United Nations peacekeepers have served in 16 different countries in Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans, and Asia. The period of deployment of the personnel has varied from mission to mission, in accordance with the complexities of each conflict situation. Missions have ranged from one to eight years. After the invasion of Somalia in Operation Linda Nchi in 2011, Kenya Army troops have been involved in heavy fighting against Al-Shabaab since. Incorporated into the AU-led AMISOM in 2012, Kenyan troops have been in Somalia since - a ongoing total of 13 years.

Commanders of the Kenya Army

On 9th of March, 2024 Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Chemwaina Tarus MGH, MBS, OGW was sworn in as the new Kenya army commander[15][16] and is currently the Kenya army commander. He had previous served as the deputy service commander of the Kenya Army under then Kenya army commander, LIEUTENANT GENERAL Peter Mbogo Njiru MGH CBS ‘rcds’ (UK) ‘psc’ (K) who was famed for being a former aide de camp to former president Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.

Structure

The Kenya Army is made up of various formations and services. These formations and services are divided between two operational commands, the Western Command (WestCom) headquartered in Lanet and Eastern Command (EastCom) based at Embakasi Garrison.[17] The Eastern Command was established in 1997 and its role is to defend the Eastern region of Kenya against external and internal threats. These areas include the capital itself and the former Central, Eastern, North Eastern and Coast provinces. Western Command is tasked with defending the Western region of the country and includes the former Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza provinces. In recent times there have been plans to set up a Nairobi Metropolitan Command for the capital and the surrounding metropolitan area of Machakos County, Kiambu County and Kajiado County.[18] This realignment would have Eastern Command relocated to Garissa but it remains unclear whether Nairobi Metropolitan Command was established. By 2020 Border Protection Command was active at Wajir under General Officer Commanding, Major General William Shume.[19] In July 2021 Shume became Deputy Commander Kenya Army and Brigadier Stephen Otieno was promoted to major-general and took over as GOC BSC.[20]

Kenyan Army Formations

  • 2 Brigade
    • 3rd Battalion, Kenya Rifles. This is Kenya's oldest unit which dates back to the 1880s. They are based in Lanet, Nakuru. Their Colour is red and their motto is 'Red Scarlets'
    • 5th Kenya Rifles. Based in Gilgil, their colour is Dark Blue. Their unit motto is 'Fighting Five'
    • 9 Kenya Rifles - Moi Barracks, Eldoret. Their colour is Orange. Their unit motto is 'Orangers fire and war machines'. Winner of end-year foot and drill competition 2020.[21]
    • 21 Transport Company
    • 22 Field Workshop
    • 23 Ordnance Company
  • 4 Brigade Current Brigade Commander is Brigadier Lukas Kutto.
    • 1st Battalion, Kenya Rifles. Based in Nanyuki, Their motto is 'Green Fire' and their colour is Green.
    • 7 Kenya Rifles - Langata Barracks, Nairobi. Their colour is Maroon and their unit motto is 'Maroon Commandos' and 'Man to man I am the best'
    • 15th Kenya Rifles. Formed in the early 1990s. It has been based in the coastal region of the country. currently housed at Mariakani Barracks. Their colour is Blue and the unit motto is 'Stay High'.
    • 41 Transport Company
    • 42 Field Workshop
    • 43 Ordnance Company
  • 6 Brigade - formed by 2010[22][23] - relocated from Embakasi to Modika Barracks, Garissa.[24]
    • 17 Kenya Rifles - Formed in 2011 and in late 2018 stationed at Modika.[24] They are known as the 'Desert Rangers' and their colour is purple. They initially used desert brown as their colour, which was changed to new, purple colours during the 2018 Jamhuri Day ceremonies.
    • 19 Kenya Rifles - Nyali Barracks.[24] Also known as the 'Ash Warriors'. Their unit colour is Ash Grey and formally received their Presidential and Regimental Colours during the 2021 Jamhuri Day ceremonies at Uhuru Gardens.
    • 21 Kenya Rifles - Mariakani Barracks but they will soon move to Manda Bay in Lamu to join the Kenya Navy in proving security in that area and especially Boni Forest.[24]
    • 61 Transport Company
    • 62 Field Workshop
    • 63 Ordnance Company
  • 8 Brigade (Brigadier David Chesire was named commandant of the brigade in August 2022[25])
    • 23 Mechanised Infantry Battalion (23 MIB) who formally received their Presidential and regimental colours during the 2022 Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium.[26]
    • 25 MIB (Mechanised Infantry Battalion) who officially received their Presidential and regimental colours during the 2023 Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi. They will be based in Baragoi, in Samburu County.
    • 27 MIB (Mechanised Infantry Battalion)
    • 31 MIB (Mechanised Infantry Battalion)
  • 110 Brigade
  • 112 Brigade
  • Army Special Operations Brigade (Kenya) - in 2020 under the command of Colonel John Njeru[27]
    • 20 Parachute Battalion
    • 30 Special Forces Battalion
    • 40 Ranger Strike Force Battalion
    • Special Operations Training School (SOTS)
  • Kenya Army Artillery Brigade
    • 66 Artillery Battalion
    • 75 Artillery Battalion (Air Defence)
    • 77 Artillery Battalion
    • 88 Artillery Battalion
    • School of Artillery
  • Kenya Army Armoured Brigade
    • 76 Armoured Recce Battalion (ARB)
    • 78 Tank Battalion
    • 81 Tank Battalion
    • 86 Armoured Recce Battalion (ARB)
    • 91 Tank Battalion
    • School Of Armour
  • Kenya Army Engineers Brigade
    • 10 Engineers Battalion
    • 12 Engineers Battalion
    • Disaster Response Battalion
    • School of Combat Engineering (SOCE)
  • Kenya Army Corps of Signals (KACS)
    • AHQ Signal Battalion
    • School of Signals
  • 1st Canine-K9 Regiment
  • Directorate of Military Intelligence (Kenya)
    • Military Intelligence Corps
    • Long Range Surveillance Group
    • School of Military Intelligence
  • Joint Helicopter Command (Kenya) - replaced the disbanded 50 Air Cavalry Battalion[28]

Kenyan Army services

This Corps mainly deals with maintenance of motor and mechanical equipment that is used in the Kenya Army. It is based at Kahawa Garrison along Thika Road.

    • Workshop Battalion
    • School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (SEME)
  • Military Police Corps (MPC) - based at the Defence Headquarters along Lenana Road Nairobi
    • 1 MP battalion
    • 2 MP battalion
    • School of Military Police (SOMP)
  • Kenya Army Medical Corps (KAMC)
    • Medical Battalion
  • Kenya Army Corps of Education (KACE)
  • Defence Forces Constabulary (DFC)
  • Strategic Communications (STRATCOMM)

Training institutions include the Kenya Military Academy, and the Recruits Training School (Kenya), located 22 kilometres from Eldoret Town, Uasin Gishu County.[29]

Equipment

The acquisition of T-72s has caused significant controversy. Thirty-three vehicles ordered from Ukraine were hijacked by Somali pirates.[30] The Ukrainian Defence Minister Yury Yekhanurov confirmed 33 Soviet-made T-72 tanks and "a substantial quantity of ammunition" were aboard the captured cargo ship, called the Faina". The ship they were being 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 (South) Sudan People's Liberation Army, which has an arms embargo against it.[31] The KDF attempted to dispel 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.[32] Nevertheless, a cloud of doubt hung over the intent of the tank acquisition. The United States diplomatic cables leak indicated that an ongoing process of armaments purchases on behalf of the Southern Sudanese government by the Kenyan government was "a badly kept secret."[33] 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. The KDF is interested in the US Army-approved version of the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) combat simulation system.

Small arms

Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
Browning Hi-Power[34] File:FN Hi Power.jpg 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Beretta 92[34] File:Beretta 92 FS.gif 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Glock 17[34] File:Glock 17-removebg-preview.png 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria
Glock 19[34] File:Glock 19 Generation 4-removebg.png 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria
CZ-75[34] File:1977 CZ-75.png 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakia
Submachine guns
Sterling[34] File:Sterling SMG.JPG 9×19mm Submachine gun File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Uzi[34] File:Uzi of the israeli armed forces noBG.png 9×19mm Submachine gun File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel
Heckler & Koch MP5[35] File:HK MP5 noBG.png 9×19mm Submachine gun File:Flag of Germany.svg West Germany
CZ Scorpion Evo 3[36] 9×19mm Submachine gun File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic
Rifles
AKM[37] File:AKM automatkarbin Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armémuseum rightside noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union
Zastava M70[34] File:Zastava M70 AB2 noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia
Vz. 58[34] File:Sa 58-JH01 noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakia
Type 56[34] File:Type 56 mod02 noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
M16[38] File:M16A2 rightside noBG.jpg 5.56×45 mm Assault rifle File:Flag of the United States.svg United States
M4[39] File:PEO M4 Carbine RAS M68 CCO.png 5.56×45mm Carbine
Assault rifle
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States
IWI Tavor[39] File:IWI-Tavor-TAR-21w1 new noBG.png 5.56×45mm Bullpup
Assault rifle
File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel
FN SCAR|[39] File:MK16 Scar L Sideview.png 7.62×51mm NATO Battle rifle File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium 1000
FN FAL[34] File:FN-FAL belgian noBG.png 7.62×51mm Battle rifle File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3[34] File:H&K G3FS.jpg 7.62×51mm Battle rifle File:Flag of Germany.svg West Germany
Lee-Enfield File:SMLE-No4-Mk1.png .303 British Bolt-action rifle File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Empire
Sniper rifles
IWI Galatz[39] File:Galil-Sniper-Galatz-r001.jpg 5.56×45mm Designated marksman rifle File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel
Machine guns
Bren[40] File:Bren1.jpg 7.62×51mm Light machine gun File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
IWI Negev[41] File:IWI-Negev-Zachi-Evenor-01-white.jpg 5.56×45mm Light machine gun File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel
Browning M1919[34] File:Browning M1919a.png 7.62×51mm Medium machine gun File:Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States
PKM[34] File:7,62 KK PKM Helsinki 2012 no background.JPG 7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union
Heckler & Koch HK21[34] File:HK 21 lado derecho.jpg 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun File:Flag of Germany.svg West Germany
FN MAG[34] File:IDF-FN-MAG.png 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
AA-52[34] File:Mitrailleuse-IMG 1728.jpg 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun File:Flag of France.svg France
M60[34] File:M60 Medium Machine Gun (7414626098).jpg 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun File:Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States
DShK[42] File:12,7-мм станковый пулемёт ДШК образца 1938 года.jpg 12.7×108mm Heavy machine gun File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Soviet Union
Browning M2[34] File:PEO Browning M2E2 QCB (c1).jpg .50 BMG Heavy machine gun File:Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States
Grenade launchers
M203[34] File:PEO M203A2 Grenade Launcher.png 40×46mm SR Grenade launcher File:Flag of the United States.svg United States
M79[34] File:M79 Grenade Launcher (7414625716).jpg 40×46mm Grenade launcher File:Flag of the United States.svg United States

Anti-tank weapons

Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
Carl Gustav[43] File:M3E1.jpg Recoilless rifle File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 84mm
MILAN[43] File:Tag der Bundeswehr Jagel 2019 HJL 13 noBG.png Anti-tank missile File:Flag of France.svg France
File:Flag of Germany.svg West Germany
483 in service.
BGM-71 TOW[43] File:Hires 090509-A-4842R-001a.jpg Anti-tank missile File:Flag of the United States.svg United States

Vehicles

Tanks

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Vickers Mk.3 File:Kenyan Vickers MK3 Tank.jpg Main battle tank File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 78[44]
T-72AV File:T-72AV.jpg Main battle tank File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union 110 77 T-72AV from Ukraine in 2007. 33 delivered in Feb 2009 may bring total to 110.

Reconnaissance

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Panhard AML-60/90 File:AML-90 DM-SC-91-12078.JPEG Armored car File:Flag of France.svg France 72[43]
Alvis Saladin File:Alvis Saladin spotted at O'Sheas Pub & Grill (310 Grapevine Hwy Hurst, TX 76054) spotted on April 7, 2013.JPG Armored car File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 10[45]
Shorland S52 File:Shorland armoured car mk1.jpg Armored Car File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 8[43]

Scout cars

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
BOV M11 File:BOV M11 01.jpg Scout car File:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia 20[45]
Daimler Ferret File:Daimler Ferret Mk1 Liaison (1959) owned by Clive Garton pic1.JPG Armored car Scout car File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 12[43]
BRDM-3 File:Interpolitex2016part2-51.jpg Armored car Scout car File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia 8[46]

Armored personnel carriers

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
UR-416 File:UR-416 Policía Nacional.JPG Armoured personnel carrier File:Flag of Germany.svg West Germany 52[43]
Panhard M3 File:PanhardM3.png Armoured personnel carrier File:Flag of France.svg France 10[45]
ACMAT Bastion File:MINUSMA Goundam 2015.jpg Armoured personnel carrier File:Flag of France.svg France 12[43]
WZ-551 File:Sri Lanka Military 0233.jpg Armored personnel carrier File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China 35[45]

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
PUMA M26-15 File:OTT Puma M26-15 MRAP (9686047211).jpg MRAP File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa 150[39]
Katmerciler Hızır File:Hızır4x4 zırhlı araç.jpg MRAP File:Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 118[47][48]

Engineering vehicles

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Vickers Mk.3 ARV File:Chieftain ARRV (6064578679).jpg Armored recovery vehicle File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 7[43]
Bosena-5 File:Odminovací stroj Bozena - 5.jpg Mine clearing vehicle File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia Unknown[43]

Utility vehicles

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Humvee File:2015 MCAS Beaufort Air Show 041215-M-CG676-161.jpg Light utility vehicle File:Flag of the United States.svg United States 8[49]
Land Rover Series IIA File:Land Rover Series IIA (1965) - 28607076444.jpg Utility vehicle File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Unknown
Land Rover Defender File:Land Rover Defender 110 patrol vehicles.jpg Utility vehicle File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Unknown
Trucks
KamAZ-6350 File:DayTechnologies2017p2-13.jpg Utility truck File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia Unknown
FMTV File:MTV-of-the-New-Jersey-National-Guard.jpg Utility truck File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Unknown
Mercedes-Benz Kurzhauber File:Islamic Republic of Iran Army Day, 2022, Ahvaz (022).jpg Utility truck File:Flag of Germany.svg West Germany Unknown
Mack R series File:The R-11 hybrid electric refueling truck.jpg Utility truck File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Unknown

Artillery

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Self-propelled artillery
Nora B-52 Self-propelled artillery File:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia 18[45]
Mortars
MO-120-RT-61 File:Mortier 120mm fh000021.jpg Towed mortar File:Flag of France.svg France 12[50]
Field artillery
L118 File:Irish Army 105mm Light Gun Shoot RDF (15) (4110022946).jpg Field gun File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 40[51] 40 bought from United Kingdom during 1983-84.
M119 File:M119a trimmed.jpg Field gun File:Flag of the United States.svg United States 6[51] 6 donated by the United States in 2019.
OTO Melara Mod 56 File:105mm M56 OTO Melara howitzer Simcoe Ontario 1.jpg Howitzer File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy 7[43]

Air defense

Towed anti-aircraft guns

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Bofors L/70 File:Bofors automatic gun L70.png Autocannon File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 13[43]

Aircraft

Model Origin Type Number Photo Notes
Helicopters
MD 500 Defender File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States Light attack / utility helicopter 39[43] File:Military helicopter over Westgate shopping mall.jpg
Z-9 File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Light attack helicopter 3[43] File:PLA Harbin Z-9W 2012 Hong Kong cropped.JPG
Unmanned aerial vehicles
RQ-11 Raven File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States Unmanned aerial vehicle 8[52] File:Raven UAV flying.jpg
ScanEagle File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States Unmanned aerial vehicle 4[53] File:US Navy 1005268-N-RC844-159 A Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).jpg

Ranks and Insignia

Officers

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
File:Flag of the Kenyan Army.svg Kenya Army[54]
File:17. Kenyan Army CinC.svg File:16. Kenyan Army GEN.svg File:15. Kenyan Army LG.svg File:14. Kenyan Army MG.svg File:13. Kenyan Army BG.svg File:12. Kenyan Army COL.svg File:11. Kenyan Army LTCOL.svg File:10. Kenyan Army MAJ.svg File:09. Kenyan Army CAPT.svg File:08. Kenyan Army LT.svg File:07. Kenyan Army 2LT.svg
Commander-in-Chief General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant

Enlisted personnel

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
File:Flag of the Kenyan Army.svg Kenya Army[54]
File:Blank.svg File:Kenya-Army-OR-8.png File:Kenya-Army-OR-7.svg File:Kenya-Army-OR-6.svg File:Kenya-Army-OR-4.svg File:Kenya-Army-OR-3.svg No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Senior sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
(or equivalent)

Notes

  1. "Protected Areas Order" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Ministry of Defence – Kenya". Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Early History of Zanzibar, accessed January 2021.
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Further reading

  • 'Operation Linda Nchi: Kenya's Military Experience in Somalia,' 2014.