William Ruto's US Visit: Kenya To Receive 16 Helicopters, 150 Armoured Vehicles To Boost Security

• The White House announced on Thursday, May 23, that Kenya will receive a boost in its military operations and peacekeeping missions
• The donations package includes 16 helicopters and 150 armoured security vehicles to be received starting in late 2024 and 2025
• Additionally, to build military capacity, in the summer of 2024, Kenya's Defence Forces, Air Force, and Navy will have training courses in the US Military Academy

In President William Ruto's state visit to the United States, Kenya received a massive boost in its military operations and peacekeeping mission.

Among the goodies from the US, Kenya is set to receive 16 US-manufactured helicopters to boost the country's security and peacekeeping missions.

According to a report by Citizen TV, the Biden goodies include eight Hueys and eight MD-500.

The White House announced that the 16 helicopters will arrive in the country between late 2024 and 2025.

Kenya will also receive 150 M117 armoured security vehicles from the US Excess Defense Article stocks, expected to arrive by September 2024.

Other security collaborations between Kenya-US

With terrorism, Kenya's biggest security challenge, the two nations further sealed a collaboration, pledging to deepen information sharing as Kenya advances its process of joining Operation Gallant Phoenix.

"Kenya is in the process of joining Operation Gallant Phoenix, a program that advances multinational collaboration and sharing of terrorist information to build mutual capacity to collect and use battlefield evidence in civilian criminal justice proceedings in a multiagency, multinational setting. These initiatives should help both countries better protect our borders and our citizens from terrorist actors," the White House stated.

In building the military training capacity, Kenya Defense Forces will have candidates starting military courses at the US Military Academy for the first time.

"The training at the US Naval Academy, US Military Academy, and US Air Force Academy will go a long way in building on a long tradition of the majority of Kenyan general officers benefitting from US International Military Education Training courses.," the White House stated.

Isaac Mwaura dismisses question on cost of US flight

In other news, government spokeswoman Isaac Mwaura dismissed a question on Ruto's flight cost.

According to Mwaura, the benefits from the trip outweigh the traveling cost of the flight.

He termed the question futile from the man, in the estimated KSh 200, 000 million hired jet for Ruto.

What to know about William Ruto's US visit

• Former EALA MP Mumbi Ng'aru said Ruto's state visit to the US was untimely considering the situation in the country
• Ruto was lauded by US Congress Members for candidly explaining Kenya's borrowing plan
• The owners of the controversial hired KSh 200,000 million jet said the jet can fly up to 10 to 12 hours non stop

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke