Kenya To Receive 16 Helicopters From US

Kenya is set to receive sixteen US-manufactured helicopters, White House has announced.

In a press statement on Thursday, May 23, White House said the helicopters will arrive in Kenya between late 2024 and the summer of 2025 (June 2025).

White House noted that the choppers would bolster Kenya’s ability to provide regional peace and security and participate in peacekeeping missions. The 16 helicopters include 8 Hueys and 8 MD-500s.

“Kenya is scheduled to receive 16 U.S.-manufactured helicopters between late 2024 and summer 2025 to bolster its ability to provide regional peace and security (8 Hueys) and participate in peacekeeping missions (8 MD-500s),” White House stated.

White House also mentioned that Kenya has selected approximately 150 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles from U.S. Excess Defense Article stocks.

The US-manufactured military vehicles are projected to arrive in Kenya in September 2024.

“Kenya has one of the largest U.S. Foreign Military Sales portfolios in Africa,” White House remarked.

At the same time, White House announced that Kenya would receive $7 million (Sh 908 million) to advance and strengthen the modernization and professionalization of the National Police Service, with a focus on staff and training development.

Further, the US government announced a $2.2 million (Sh 291 million) funding for technical assistance in reducing prison overcrowding and improving detention conditions of inmates in Kenya.

“The United States and Kenya are committed to further advancing Kenyan-led efforts to improve the oversight of and conditions within Kenya’s prison service. The United States announced a new $2.2 million initiative to provide training, mentoring, and technical assistance to implement priority reforms,” White House added.