- Kenya Defence Forces
-
Military of Kenya Service branches Kenya Army,
Kenya Navy,
Kenya Air ForceManpower Military age 18 Available for
military service4,303,153, age 15–49 (2005 est.) Fit for
military service3,963,532, age 15–49 (2005 est.) Reaching military
age annuallyunknown (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]
The Army's machine gun mounted Humvee
Contents
History
1896 to 1900
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:-
- The 8 companies of 1 Central African Rifles became 1 Battalion King's African Rifles.
- The 6 companies of 2 Central African Rifles became 2 Battalion King's African Rifles.
- The 7 companies and one camel company of East African Rifles became 3 Battalion King's African Rifles.
- The 9 companies of the Uganda Rifles became 4 Battalion King's African Rifles.
- The 4 companies of the Contingent of Uganda Rifles became 5 Battalion Kings African Rifles.
1902-1963
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.
1963-present
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]
Organisation
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]
Kenya Army formations
- Kenya Army Infantry
- Kenya Army Paratroopers
- Kenya Army Armour (includes 78 Tank Battalion, Isiolo)
- Kenya Army Artillery (includes 77 Artillery Battalion)
- Kenya Army Engineers
- 50 Air Cavalry Battalion
Kenya Army services
- Kenya Army Ordnance Corps
- Kenya Army Corps of Transport
- Kenya Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
- Kenya Army Corps of Signals
- Kenya Army Military Police Corps
- Kenya Army Education Corps
- Medical Battalion
- Armed Forces Constabularies
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]
Equipment
Kenyan Army
Combat vehicles
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.
Weapons inventory
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 20,500+ 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 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 Kenya Air Force
Name Type Variant Quantity [15][16] Origin Notes Northrop F-5 Fighter aircraft F-5 Tiger II
F-5F18
4United 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 1273
2United Kingdom 13-14 delivered Shorts Tucano Trainer Tucano 11 United Kingdom 12 delivered since 1990 Aérospatiale Puma Transport helicopter SA 330G 12
9France
RomaniaSince 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 helicopterMD 500M
MD 500MD
MD 500MD/TOW10
15
35United 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 helicopterZ-9
Z-9W4
4China Z-9W delivered Jan 2010[19] One crashed 17 Oct 2011 in Liboi Main article: Kenya Navy#FleetThe Kenya Navy is composed of:
- 2 offshore patrol vessels (During the 2011 refit Otomat missile systems were removed)
- 6 inshore patrol vessels
- 1 amphibious craft
- 12 support vessel including patrol boats, landing ship, tug boats.
Kenya Police Service
The equipment of the Kenya Police and General Service Unit (GSU) a paramilitary wing of the Kenyan Police comprises:
- 7 Cessna aircraft, the latest (2011) being a Cessna 208 Caravan light aircraft (United States)
- 3 Mil Mi-17 helicopters (Russia)
- 1 MBB Bo 105 air ambulance helicopter (Germany)
- 3 Bell-206 light helicopters[20] (United States)
- Kenya Police Formations are:
- General Service Unit
- Anti Stock Theft
- Criminal Investigation Department
- Traffic Police Department
- Kenya Police College
- Kenya Police Airwing
- Kenya Railway Police Unit
- Kenya Police Dog Unit
- Tourism Police Unit
- Kenya Airports Police Unit
- Maritime Police Unit
- Diplomatic Police Unit
- Anti-terrorist Police Unit
Personnel
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).[citation needed] 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.
Kenyan National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS)
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:
- 1. Administration
- 2. Information technology
- 3. Internal intelligence
- 4. External intelligence
- 5. Analysis & production
- 6. Operations
- 7. National Intelligence Academy
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.[citation needed]
Officials of the new Intelligence body are:
- Director of operations,
- Director of external intelligence,
- Director of internal intelligence,
- Director of National Intelligence Academy,
- Director of administration,
- Director of economic affairs
- Director of information technology.
Notes
- ^ In July 2008 it was reported that Kenya will spend 1.5 billion KSh to buy 15 former Jordanian Air Force F-5, 13 F-5E and 2 F-5F[17] (plus training and spare parts). In November 2010 it was reported that Kenya had received the mentioned F-5 jets. However their serviceability has been questioned particularly by the Kenyan Parliament.[18]
References
- ^ Commission of Inquiry into the Post Election Violence
- ^ Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
- ^ [1]
- ^ The Standard 31 October 2010 Activists give military 5 days to re-admit recruit INTERNET http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000021408&catid=159&a=1 Cited on 03 January 2011
- ^ The Standard Sh 1.6 billion tender rocks the DoD INTERNET http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000020947&catid=4&a=1 Cited on 03 January 2011
- ^ For example the decision to acquire ex-Jordanian F5 fighter aircraft. See The Standard Kenya's 'new' fighter jets cannot take off INTERNET http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000021374&catid=4&a=1 Cited on 03 January 2011
- ^ a b Security&Itemid=115 Kenyan ramps up security at Somali border, eyes al Shabaab
- ^ "Kenyan troops pursue al-Shabab into Somalia in Operation Linda Nchi". Al Jazeera English. 16 October 2011. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/10/20111016115410991692.html. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "The Kenya Army Formations". Kenya Government, Ministry of State for Defence. http://www.mod.go.ke/army/?page_link=formations. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
- ^ "Trained in terror". Human Rights Watch (republished from The Guardian article of 30 July 2008). http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/07/29/trained-terror. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
- ^ Somali pirates warn off rescuers http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7639090.stm access date 27 September 2008 by the BBC. The Ukrainian Defence Minister Yury Yekhanurov confirmed 33 Russian T-72 tanks and "a substantial quantity of ammunition" were aboard the captured cargo ship, called the Faina".
- ^ [2] Los Angeles Times, retrieved 18 November 2008
- ^ http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/995068/-/wcijn1/-/index.html
- ^ "Sudan “arm-twisted govt” to get tanks". All Africa.com. 10 December 2010. http://allafrica.com/stories/201012110008.html. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
- ^ MilAviaPress: Order of Battle - Kenya (Updated May 2009)
- ^ Kenyan military aviation OrBat
- ^ [3] nation.co.ke. Retrieved: 17 November 2010
- ^ "中国直9型武装直升机将出口肯尼亚" Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved: 21 March 2010
- ^ Kenya Security Information - Institute for Security Studies retrieved on May 28, 2007
Further reading
- David A. Percox, Britain, Kenya and the cold war: imperial defence, colonial security and decolonisation, Volume 13 of International library of African studies, Tauris Academic Studies, I.B.Tauris, 2004, ISBN 1850434603, 9781850434603
External links
- Kenya Ministry of Defence
- Kenya National Security Intelligence Service
- Kenya Security Information - Institute for Security Studies retrieved on May 28, 2007
- Kenya Police Air Wing
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