Kenya
-- Defense
Kenya's
armed
forces
are relatively
small
and have
thus been
called
on only
in domestic
conflicts.
Kenya
has little
capability
of exerting
military
influence
outside
its borders.
Their
combat
worthiness
in the
field
remain
untested
since
independence.
In 1994,
military
expenditures
were $134
million,
about
3.9% of
the GDP.
Military
branches
include
the Army,
the Navy,
the Air
Force
and the
paramilitary
General
Service
Unit which
is used
internally
during
political
and civil
disturbances.
The
commander
in chief
of Kenya's
military
defense
is the
nation's
president.
Just under
the president,
the minister
of defense
presides
over the
Defense
Council.
The nation's
Defense
Headquarters
is headed
by the
chief
of the
defense
staff,
who also
serves
as commander
of the
army.
The National
Assembly
is the
deliberative
body charged
with the
right
to declare
war.
Military
service
is fulfilled
by voluntary
enlistment,
generally
for a
period
of nine
years.
The armed
forces
employ
about
13,350
men and
women.
The army's
organization
is as
follows:
1 armed
brigade,
2 infantry
brigades,
1 engineer
brigade,
1 armored
reconnaissance
battalion,
2 artillery
battalions,
2 engineer
battalions,
1 independent
air cavalry
battalion,
5 infantry
battalions,
1 parachute
battalion,
air wing
with 15
armored
helicopters.
Its equipment
includes
76 Vickers
Mark 3
tanks,
76 armored
reconnaissance
vehicles,
62 armored
personnel
carriers,
56 105mm.
guns,
12 155mm.
Howitzers,
30 mortars,
50 recoil-less
rifles,
and a
number
of antitank
guided
weapons.
The army's
air forces
are made
up of
28 combat
aircraft,
22 transports,
14 trainers,
and 44
helicopters.
The Navy
employs
650 personnel;
it has
3 patrol
boats
and 4
fast attack
craft.
Kenya's
naval
base is
in Mombasa;
its air
bases
include
Eastleigh
(Nairobi),
Nanyuki,
Embakasi,
Nyeri,
Mombasa,
and Kisumu[1]
. The
British
military
retains
a presence
in Kenya,
with 300
British
military
officers
on duty
supporting
the Kenyan
armed
forces.
Combined
training
exercises
are held
annually.
An agreement
with the
US in
the early
1980s
gave US
forces
access
to Kenyan
air force
and naval
facilities
in exchange
for increased
military
and economic
aid.
In
1982,
the air
force
attempted
a coup
against
President
Moi. The
coup failed
and over
1,000
air force
personnel
were arrested
and the
air force
was disbanded
and put
under
the operational
command
of the
army.
[1]
Kurian,
George
Thomas
1992.
Encyclopedia
of the
Third
World,
fourth
edition,
volume
III, Facts
on File:
New York,
N.Y.,
pp.983-984.