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

Kenyan Army
Jeshi la Nchi Kavu
Coat of arms of the Kenya Army
Founded1964
Country 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
Flag

History edit

The origin of the present day Kenya Army lie with 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. During the same period other European nations were also developing spheres of influence in Africa. The British established the Imperial British East Africa Company to take care of its interests. As these interests developed and expanded, there was need to create a more formidable force to safeguard these interests and expansion, and thus the first British land forces in Kenya were created.

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.

 
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 edit

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 edit

The Kenya Army has participated and continues to participate in international peacekeeping, Peace Support Operations. These activities were first considered in 1973 when 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.

The first participation of the Kenya Army 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 peace support 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 Namibia. Kenya has ranked number 6 out of the 90 countries who contribute military and civilian police to the UN operations.

Since 1989,[2] Kenya has contributed military observers, staff officers, civilian police monitors, and infantry troops to various missions.[13] The level of participation has also included force commanders, chief military observers, and chiefs of staff to the following UN and African Union missions:

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.

Commanders of the Kenya Army edit

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

Structure edit

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 the mooted plan was implemented.

Kenya Army Formations edit

  • 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.[19]
    • 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[20][21] - relocated from Embakasi to Modika Barracks, Garissa.[22]
    • 17 Kenya Rifles - Formed in 2011 and in late 2018 stationed at Modika.[22] 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.[22] 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.[22]
    • 61 Transport Company
    • 62 Field Workshop
    • 63 Ordnance Company
  • 8 Brigade (current Brigade Commander is Brigadier David Chesire.)
    • 23 Mechanised Infantry Battalion (23 MIB) who formally received their Presidential and regimental colours during the 2022 Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium.[23]
    • 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[24]
    • 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[25]

Kenya Army services edit

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)

Equipment edit

The acquisition of T-72s has caused significant controversy. Thirty-three vehicles ordered from Ukraine were hijacked by Somali pirates.[26] 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 Sudanese army, which has an arms embargo against it.[27]

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.[28] Nevertheless, a cloud of doubt hangs 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."[29] 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 edit

Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
Browning Hi-Power[30]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Belgium
Beretta 92[30]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Italy
Glock 17[30]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Austria
Glock 19[30]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Austria
CZ-75[30]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Czechoslovakia
Submachine guns
Sterling[30]   9×19mm Submachine gun   United Kingdom
Uzi[30]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Israel
Heckler & Koch MP5[31]   9×19mm Submachine gun   West Germany
CZ Scorpion Evo 3[32]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Czech Republic
Rifles
AKM[33]   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   Soviet Union
Zastava M70[30]   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   Yugoslavia
Vz. 58[30]   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   Czechoslovakia
Type 56[30]   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   China
M16[34]   5.56×45 mm Assault rifle   United States
M4[35]   5.56×45mm Carbine
Assault rifle
  United States
IWI Tavor[35]   5.56×45mm Bullpup
Assault rifle
  Israel
FN SCAR|[35]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   Belgium 1000
FN FAL[30]   7.62×51mm Battle rifle   Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3[30]   7.62×51mm Battle rifle   West Germany
Lee-Enfield   .303 British Bolt-action rifle   British Empire
Sniper rifles
IWI Galatz[35]   5.56×45mm Designated marksman rifle   Israel
Machine guns
Bren[36]   7.62×51mm Light machine gun   United Kingdom
IWI Negev[37]   5.56×45mm Light machine gun   Israel
Browning M1919[30]   7.62×51mm Medium machine gun   United States
PKM[30]   7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun   Soviet Union
Heckler & Koch HK21[30]   7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun   West Germany
FN MAG[30]   7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun   Belgium
AA-52[30]   7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun   France
M60[30]   7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun   United States
DShK[38]   12.7×108mm Heavy machine gun   Soviet Union
Browning M2[30]   .50 BMG Heavy machine gun   United States
Grenade launchers
M203[30]   40×46mm SR Grenade launcher   United States
M79[30]   40×46mm Grenade launcher   United States

Anti-tank weapons edit

Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
Carl Gustav[39]   Recoilless rifle   Sweden 84mm
MILAN[39]   Anti-tank missile   France
  West Germany
483 in service.
BGM-71 TOW[39]   Anti-tank missile   United States

Vehicles edit

Tanks edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Vickers Mk.3   Main battle tank   United Kingdom 78[40] INS
T-72AV   Main battle tank   Soviet Union 110 INS 77 T-72AV from Ukraine in 2007. 33 delivered in Feb 2009 may bring total to 110.

Reconnaissance edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Panhard AML-60/90   Armored car   France 72[39] INS
Alvis Saladin   Armored car   United Kingdom 10[41] INS
Shorland S52   Armored Car   United Kingdom 8[39] INS

Scout cars edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
BOV M11   Scout car   Serbia 20[41] INS
Daimler Ferret   Armored car Scout car   United Kingdom 12[39] INS
BRDM-3   Armored car Scout car   Russia 8[42] INS

Armored personnel carriers edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
UR-416   Armoured personnel carrier   West Germany 52[39] INS
Panhard M3   Armoured personnel carrier   France 10[41] INS
ACMAT Bastion   Armoured personnel carrier   France 12[39] INS
WZ-551   Armored personnel carrier   China 35[41] INS

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
PUMA M26-15   MRAP   South Africa 150[35] INS
Katmerciler Hızır   MRAP   Turkey 118[43][44] INS

Engineering vehicles edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Vickers Mk.3 ARV   Armored recovery vehicle   United Kingdom 7[39] INS
Bosena-5   Mine clearing vehicle   Slovakia Unknown[39] INS

Utility vehicles edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Humvee   Light utility vehicle   United States 8[45] INS
Land Rover Series IIA   Utility vehicle   United Kingdom Unknown INS
Land Rover Defender   Utility vehicle   United Kingdom Unknown INS
Trucks
KamAZ-6350   Utility truck   Russia Unknown INS
FMTV   Utility truck   United States Unknown INS
Mercedes-Benz Kurzhauber   Utility truck   West Germany Unknown INS
Mack R series   Utility truck   United States Unknown INS

Artillery edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Self-propelled artillery
Nora B-52 Self-propelled artillery   Serbia 18[41] INS
Mortars
MO-120-RT-61   Towed mortar   France 12[46] INS
Field artillery
L118   Field gun   United Kingdom 40[47] INS 40 bought from United Kingdom during 1983-84.
M119   Field gun   United States 6[47] INS 6 donated by the United States in 2019.
OTO Melara Mod 56   Howitzer   Italy 7[39] INS

Air defense edit

Towed anti-aircraft guns edit

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Bofors L/70   Autocannon   Sweden 13[39] INS

Aircraft edit

Model Origin Type Number Photo Notes
Helicopters
MD 500 Defender   United States Light attack / utility helicopter 39[39]  
Z-9   China Light attack helicopter 3[39]  
Unmanned aerial vehicles
RQ-11 Raven   United States Unmanned aerial vehicle 8[48]  
ScanEagle   United States Unmanned aerial vehicle 4[49]  

Ranks and Insignia edit

Officers edit

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Kenya Army[50]
                     
Commander-in-Chief General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant

//*/*

Enlisted personnel edit

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Kenya Army[50]
            No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
(or equivalent)

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Protected Areas Order" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Ministry of Defence – Kenya". Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b Early History of Zanzibar, accessed January 2021.
  4. ^ Moradi, Alexander (September 2009). "Towards an Objective Account of Nutrition and Health in Colonial Kenya: A Study of Stature in African Army Recruits and Civilians, 1880–1980" (PDF). The Journal of Economic History. 69 (3): 724–725. doi:10.1017/S0022050709001107. JSTOR 40263941. S2CID 14882403.
  5. ^ 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 1-85043-460-3, ISBN 978-1-85043-460-3, p. 90
  6. ^ Mwangi, Wanjiku & Kimwele 2019, p. 8-9.
  7. ^ "The Special Forces of Kenya's military". Nation. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  8. ^ Foss 1986, p. 177.
  9. ^ Sgt Hesborn Gichuru, "Modika Barracks: An Oasis in the Desert," Majeshi Yetu [Kenya Defence Forces], 2019, Volume 14, p.23.
  10. ^ IISS Military Balance 2021, p472.
  11. ^ "Inside Kenya's plan to deploy military to the DR Congo". The Nation. 1 May 2021.
  12. ^ Brigadier J.H. Learmont (December 1980). "Reflections from Rhodesia". RUSI Journal. 125 (4): 49.
  13. ^ "Peacekeeping Operations". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  14. ^ Africa Research Bulletin, Vol 49, No 12, 1–31 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Kenya Army – Ministry of Defence – Kenya". mod.go.ke. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  16. ^ Swearing-in of the Kenya Defence Forces Vice Chief and Service Commanders, State House, Nairobi., retrieved 9 March 2024
  17. ^ "Kenya Army History".
  18. ^ https://nation.africa/kenya/news/Raychelle-Omamo-Nairobi-Metropolitan-Command-Police-Security/1056-2106769-view-asAMP-tjuhc1/index.html[dead link]
  19. ^ @kdfinfo (1 January 2021). "C' Company of the 9th Battalion, Kenya Rifles (9KR) trounced all 2 Brigade Company's to emerge winners" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "New Kenya military bosses appointed". 3 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Home".
  22. ^ a b c d Angira, Zadock (20 December 2019). "Terror level in Northern Kenya currently very high". People Daily Kenya.
  23. ^ Wambui, Mary (12 December 2022). "Ruto's first trooping of colour as Commander-in-Chief of KDF". Nation. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Ngao ya Taifa", Vol. 2, 2020, page 28, published by Kenya Army, 2020.
  25. ^ Gisesa, Nyambega (25 September 2020). "Kenya: After Meat, Kenyatta Set to Hand Over Choppers to Military". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  26. ^ "Africa | Pirates 'want $35m for tank ship'". BBC News. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  27. ^ "Cargo prompts doubts on hijacked ship's destination". Los Angeles Times. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  28. ^ "IN PICTURES: MILITARY ALL SET FOR 27 AUG – Daily Nation". Nation.co.ke. 17 August 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  29. ^ "Sudan "arm-twisted govt" to get tanks". All Africa.com. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  31. ^ "Germany's Unseen Hand in Kenya Crisis". The African Executive. 6 February 2008. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  32. ^ "CZ Skorpion Evo 3, Kenya police issued new select fire switch sophisticated guns to fight crime". 22 January 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Al-Shabab gunmen remain holed up in Nairobi mall after deadly shooting". america.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022.
  34. ^ "AR 15 (M16/M4)". SALW Guide.
  35. ^ a b c d e Binnie, Jeremy; de Cherisey, Erwan (2017). "New-model African armies" (PDF). Jane's. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2017.
  36. ^ CPL Jeff Sisto, USMC (9 December 2002). "Lance Corporal (LCPL) Seamus Conner, USMC, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) GUNNER, Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines (BLT 2/2), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU SOC), fires the Bren Light Machine Gun (LMG) during a cross training portion of Exercise EDGED MALLET 2003 in Manda Bay, Kenya". catalog.archives.gov. National Archives. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  37. ^ "Kenya Army's Negev light machine guns and Galil sniper rifles Delivered by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) – Strategic Intelligence Service". Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  38. ^ World Armies (8 October 2012). "Kenyan Army". flicker. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. p. 472. ISBN 9781032012278.
  40. ^ The Military Balance. The International Institute of Strategic Studies. 2022. p. 477. ISBN 978-1032279008.
  41. ^ a b c d e "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org.
  42. ^ "Кения получила из России партию бронемашин БРДМ-3 и вертолетов Ми-171" (in Russian). Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  43. ^ "Turkish Hizir vehicles exported to East Africa". Janes.com. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  44. ^ "KDF to buy 118 top military vehicles to fight al Shabaab". The Star. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  45. ^ "US donates vehicles to Ethiopia, Kenya". defenceWeb. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  46. ^ Military Balance 2021, p. 472.
  47. ^ a b "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  48. ^ "U.S. to Provide Kenya With Drones to Fight Militants". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  49. ^ "ScanEagle to be delivered to Cameroon, Kenya and Pakistan". FlightGlobal. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  50. ^ a b "KDF Ranks". mod.go.ke. Ministry of Defence - Kenya. Retrieved 9 December 2022.

Further reading edit

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