Nairobi(Mogadishu24)-The Governments of Kenya and the United Kingdom have strengthened their defence and security collaboration with a recent signing of the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA).

Kenya’s Minister of Defence, Aden Barre and the British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, conducted a working tour to the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki on Friday.

“The Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Kenya and the United Kingdom (UK) cemented the relationship between the two countries, allowing for extensive and robust cooperation in the field of defence and security,” said Minister Aden Duale.

BATUK’s operations fall within the purview of the DCA, overseen through annual Defence Ministerial Meetings and biennial Inter-Governmental Liaison Committee (IGLC) sessions.

The Kenyan parliament approved the 2021 DCA, playing a vital role in facilitating joint defence exercises, pre-deployment training for peacekeeping missions, and various capacity-building courses for Kenyan troops.

Hon. Aden Barre emphasized the importance of this military cooperation in developing national capacity to counter insurgency, terrorism, and defeat irregular threats.

“The security terrain is ever-changing, with emerging challenges such as insurgency, terrorism, and violent extremism, which call for joint global efforts to combat and neutralize,” he added.

During the tour, they inspected the Counter Insurgency, Terrorism, and Stability Operations Centre (CITSO) to evaluate its construction progress and readiness.

“CITSO is a multinational project collectively sponsored by Kenya, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US), aiming to establish global collaborative efforts to counter terrorism and emerging threats,” he stated.

He further explained that CITSO’s training concept revolves around Joint Multi-Agency Operations (JMAO), enabling the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to deter and defeat armed threats through synchronized military operations with multi-agency partners, ensuring national and regional peace, security, and stability.

The Cabinet Secretary for Defence was accompanied by key military figures, including Commander Fourth Brigade Brigadier Gula, Chief of Strategic Plans and Policy at the Defence Headquarters Brigadier Richard Mwanzia, and BATUK Commander Colonel Andrew Wilde.

This development comes a month after Kenya and the UK reiterated their commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defence and security, education, and environmental sectors during the visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at State House, Nairobi.

Kenya’s regional and international influence has been growing as it actively participates in global and regional matters, such as security and peace.

Last month, the governments of Kenya and China signed multiple agreements covering various sectors, including communication, technology, medicine, electricity, and road construction.

Kenya has also signed a five-year joint defence cooperation framework with the United States of America, which will enable the two countries to enhance compatibility and work together for regional peace and stability.