Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and UK’s Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, have agreed on a refreshed UK-Kenya Security Compact.
The signing of the Compact concluded after a morning of high-level talks, chaired by Matiang’i and Wallace, under the third UK-Kenya Security Dialogue.
The CS hosted Wallace at the start of a two-day visit to Kenya, which now moves on to focus on the UK and Kenya’s longstanding defence relationship.
"The Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Kenya, were therefore delighted to meet once again in this Senior Ministerial forum and agree a refreshed Security Compact, providing renewed impetus and strategic direction for addressing these shared challenges together," Wallace said.
The signing is expected to enhance the bilateral relationship between the two nations, one year on from President Uhuru Kenyatta and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s launch of the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership in London.
“Our cordial relationship with the United Kingdom goes back many decades and it is indeed a pleasure to welcome the Secretary of State for Defence to our country," Matiang'i said.
“Kenya has been at the forefront of the global war against terror and it is partnerships like these that make a difference, and the world a safer place to be in."
He added that this Security Compact will see both countries strengthen their capacity to respond to various facets of global security challenges in a more formidable manner.
"I look forward to working closely with the UK in achieving this goal," he said.
Wallace said Kenya has long been the UK’s closest partner in East Africa.
"There are over 200 UK Armed Forces personnel based here and in a more uncertain world the UK is determined to invest further in our bilateral ties," Wallace said.
"Our nations face shared threats, from violent extremism to organised crime. The security agreement we have signed today will allow us to further deepen our relationship and tackle regional defence issues as ever closer partners.”
The Security Dialogue talks focused on enhancing coordination and collaboration in tackling al Shabaab, and demonstrating joint leadership on security challenges of international significance – notably instability in the Horn of Africa – as befits two members of the United Nations Security Council.
"The evolution of the Compact is testament to the responsiveness of our bilateral partnership, as we adapt to the changing nature of threats, in working together for the security of our two countries, East Africa and the wider world," Wallace said.