By Naomi Njung’e
Defence Principal Secretary, Dr Patrick Mariru, hosted two notable delegations at the Defence Headquarters in Nairobi, in Kenya’s ongoing pursuit of robust international defence relations.
The first meeting brought together Dr. Mariru and the Ambassador of Japan in Kenya, H.E. Matsuura Hiroshi, in their efforts to seek new avenues of furthering the burgeoning defence cooperation between Kenya and Japan.
“Explored opportunities for deepening the emerging Kenya-Japan defence cooperation with the Japanese Ambassador to Kenya H.E Matsuura Hiroshi at Defence Headquarters,” stated PS Mariru.
The two exchanged discussions of Japan’s added support for the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) and how the two countries could collaborate even further, especially in the build-up to the upcoming 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).
Kenya is interested in learning Japan’s military infrastructure and military technological capabilities, and is equally interested in benefiting from Japan’s Overseas Security Assistance Programme.
The Envoy of Japan was also joined by Ms. Noriko Kobayashi, the Political Section Chief of the Japanese Embassy, and Defence Attache CDR Keiko Kawashima. The key Kenyan officers in the meeting included Brigadier Ronald Makori, Chief of Strategic Policy and Plans of KDF, and Mr. Kennedy Okondo, Director of Policy, Strategy, and Planning of the Ministry of Defence.
Earlier, the Kenya United States Liaison Office (KUSLO) and Institute for Security Governance (ISG) delegation, led by Mr. Ian Wexler, Director of ISG, was received by Dr. Mariru. The visit is Mr. Wexler’s maiden visit to Kenya, and is well-timed since he will be conducting a week-long Professional Enhancement Workshop for the Ministry of Defence officers.
The workshop is part of a larger capacity-building project for MOD and KUSLO. Among other things, the workshop is expected to support the articulation of the Defence Civilian Staff Policy (DCSP) for the promotion of service delivery in the defence sector in Kenya.
He was also in the company of Ms. Jessie Evans. Also present in the meeting were the MOD Secretary for Administration, Mr. Isaac Masinde and Dr. Lilian Nzavi, Director for Human Resource Management and Development.
These talks also mean that Kenya is committed to building strong international relations that will support peace, security, and capacity building within its defence forces.