Kenya, Demark sign maritime security training deal

Kenya Navy parade at the Mama Ngina Waterfront, Mombasa ahead of Mashujaa Day celebrations last year. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NMG

By EDWIN MUTAI
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Summary

• The Ministry of Defense has asked Parliament to ratify the co-operation agreement that will see the upgrade of the Kenya Navy Training School to a regional centre for excellence for training of maritime security personnel.
• Kenya renewed the five-year agreement on July 17 after the Kingdom of Denmark confirmed the text of the agreement.
• The Cabinet approved the renewal and execution of the agreement on November 22, 2018 after an initial five year deal lapsed on September 16 that year.

Kenya is set to upgrade its training of maritime security personnel after it renewed a five-year defence co-operation agreement with Denmark.

The Ministry of Defense has asked Parliament to ratify the co-operation agreement that will see the upgrade of the Kenya Navy Training School to a regional centre for excellence for training of maritime security personnel.

Kenya renewed the five-year agreement on July 17 after the Kingdom of Denmark confirmed the text of the agreement.

The Cabinet approved the renewal and execution of the agreement on November 22, 2018 after an initial five year deal lapsed on September 16 that year.

“Owing to the ongoing projects under the initial agreement, the parties, by mutual consent agreed to renew the agreement,” Monica Juma, the Defence secretary said in a report to Parliament.

The Treaty Making and Ratification Act requires Parliament to approve the ratification of any agreement signed between Kenya and international bodies.

Under the initial agreement, Kenya benefited from Denmark assistance to construct a state-of-the-art full bridge simulator and trainer at the Kenya Navy Training School at the Kenya Navy Base Mtongwe.

The Kenya-Denmark Maritime Co-operation programme 2015-2017 also saw modification of the ship engine test cell at the Kenya Navy Base Mtongwe.

The agreement also includes co-operation in governance, oversight, financial support and administration of the International Peace Support Training Centre in Karen, Nairobi.

The new corporation agreement will help Kenya tackle security challenges such as terrorism, organised international crimes such as piracy, human and drug trafficking and the instability in Somalia that necessitates collaboration between States.

“The proposed agreement will provide a framework for addressing these challenges through collaboration with the Kingdom of Denmark,” Ms Juma said.

She said Kenya will benefit from the bilateral relations with Denmark which is a leading maritime State. “The Kingdom of Denmark continues to support the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to build and enhance their capacity,” she said.

Ms Juma said the ratification of the Kenya-Denmark Defence Co-operation Agreement is not envisaged to have any financial implications.