NAIROBI, Kenya — The United Kingdom’s Chief of the General Staff, Roland Walker, has held high-level talks with Kenya’s military leadership in Nairobi, in a visit aimed at strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.
General Walker paid a courtesy call on the Chief of the Defence Forces, Charles Kahariri, at Defence Headquarters, where the two leaders reviewed the longstanding partnership between the Kenya Defence Forces and the British Army.
The discussions focused on expanding joint training programmes, enhancing institutional capacity building, and deepening operational collaboration in response to evolving regional and global security challenges.
As part of his itinerary, Walker also visited Headquarters Kenya Army, where he met Commander David Ketter. The engagement underscored ongoing efforts to strengthen military-to-military cooperation, particularly in training, readiness, and knowledge exchange.
Both sides emphasised the value of joint exercises in improving professionalism, interoperability, and operational preparedness. Walker commended the strength of the existing partnership, while Ketter reaffirmed the Kenya Army’s commitment to sustaining and expanding collaborative engagements.
The visit extended to Kenya Navy Base Manda Bay, where the UK delegation received a security briefing on operations within the Boni Forest enclave.
The area remains a focal point for counter-terrorism efforts under Operation Amani Boni, which targets militant groups operating along the Kenya–Somalia border.
Officials said the delegation also toured the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force, a trilateral platform under the Kenya–UK–USA defence cooperation framework.
The unit integrates intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to enhance situational awareness and support coordinated operations, including maritime security along Kenya’s coastline.
The visit concluded at the International Peace Support Training Centre, where discussions highlighted continued collaboration in peace support operations and international training initiatives.
