Kenya is set to receive a donation of military choppers from the US following President William Ruto’s recent visit.
The White House said in a statement that the choppers will help Kenya to bolster regional security and peace.
“The delivery of the 16 helicopters marks a significant milestone in United States-Kenya Defence Cooperation. The Hueys will enhance Kenya’s Regional Security capabilities while the MD-500s will support the peace keeping mission,” the White House said.
People Daily learnt that two of the eight UH-1’hueys’ choppers had arrived n the country two weeks ago and are currently being assembled at the Embakasi Garrison hangar in Nairobi by expertise from the manufacturing company, Kenya Air Force and specialized team of technicians from the US Air Force.
The choppers are set to undergo comprehensive tests ahead of the official handover in November.
The remainder of the shipment, consisting of six Huey helicopters, will be shipped next month. The Huey model is a military utility helicopter designed and manufactured by the US aerospace company Bell Helicopter. The White House said the helicopters will help the country strengthen peace and security in the region. In addition to the Hueys, Kenya will also receive a supply of eight Md-500s from the United States to strengthen the country’s participation in peacekeeping missions. The Md-500 series of helicopters is an American family of light civilian and military helicopters developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army Oh-6A Cayuse/Loach. The helicopters will also be used for evacuation, troop deployment, supply delivery and air strikes.
Last June 24, the White House officially designated Kenya as the main non-NATO ally of the United States, making it the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to obtain this recognition, which will allow Nairobi to obtain more sophisticated weapons from the United States and to engage with Washington for purposes of the Act and the Arms Export Control Act.
The designation was announced on the occasion of President Ruto’s state visit to Washington at the end of May, during which he was the first African leader to be received at the White House by a US president for 15 years.
