The African country has had significant internal and external conflicts.
The Kenyan Armed Forces will receive the Israeli SPYDER air defense/anti-missile system produced by the defense contractor Rafael. The cost of the deal is $26 million, with delivery scheduled for 2026.
According to World Defense News, the deal was made at the government level. As part of the agreement, Israel will provide Kenya with a loan equal to the value of the contract (meaning the payment will be made in installments).
According to representatives of the Ministry of Defense in Nairobi, the procurement of air defense systems is intended to counter threats of asymmetric warfare from Al-Shabaab and groups operating from Somali territory, which have begun using drones and loitering munitions.
Kenya has had significant internal and external conflicts, including the Mau Mau Uprising (a war for independence against the British in the 1950s), border clashes with Somalia (a conflict over territory and the Al-Shabaab group), as well as participation in regional peacekeeping operations (for example, in the DRC and South Sudan). Historically, Kenya has been the site of battles in World War I and World War II (the East African Campaign).
Major Conflicts and Wars of Kenya:
Mau Mau Uprising (1952-1960): A bloody conflict between Kenyan rebels (Kikuyu) and British colonial authorities for independence, accompanied by torture and concentration camps by the British, but ultimately contributed to Kenya gaining sovereignty.
Somali-Kenyan Conflicts: Prolonged skirmishes, border disputes, terrorist attacks, and operations (for example, "Linda Nchi" against Al-Shabaab).
War with Shifta Rebels: Armed conflicts in the 1960s related to separatist movements of Somalis in northeastern Kenya.
East African Campaign (World War I and World War II): The territory of Kenya was a theater of operations between British and German forces (1914-1918, 1940-1941).
Participation in Peacekeeping Operations: Kenya actively participates in peacekeeping missions in the region and in conflict resolution, for example, in the DRC and South Sudan, striving for regional stability.
Leave a comment