Kenya is set to have the first-ever Marine Commando Unit following a partnership between Kenya and the United Kingdom to counter threats and fight terrorism.
On Friday, British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriot said the UK, Kenya and the US stand shoulder to shoulder in the shared endeavour of countering Al Shabaab.
" This history-making partnership - the creation of the first-ever Marine Commando Unit - is a clear signal of our three countries’ enduring commitment to the Kenyan Military and to regional security,” Marriot said.
She said the maiden Marine Commando Unit have successfully completed their basic training which was marked by a passing-out parade at Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa.
"The KMCU will be an elite fighting force with the ability to conduct specialised amphibious operations to weaken and disrupt threats to Kenya, and take the fight to Al-Shabaab by land and by sea," Marriot said.
The Kenyan commandos were trained for a period of 12 weeks by 10 British Marines from 40 Commando Royal Marines.
The marines commandos were recruited from the Kenyan Military to undertake the training program.
The British funded the construction of the Mtongwe Naval Base obstacle course training centre which is a near replica of the course used at the Royal Marine Commando training base in Lympstone, UK.
"This first cohort of Marines have kick-started a self-sustaining training cycle, whereby the Kenyan Navy will eventually be able to train their own Marine Commandos," Marriot said.
Marriot noted that the joint endeavour to create the Marine Commando Unit is an example of the UK and Kenya’s enduring commitment to building a strong, capable and adaptable Kenyan Military that is already an anchor of regional stability and security.
" The UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership, is an ambitious five-year agreement delivering mutual benefits for the UK and Kenya, and keeping our people safe; it is underpinned by the Defence Cooperation Agreement that provides the framework for this training program," Marriot said.
She said US Military were also an integral part of the creation of the KCMU by ensuring the commandos are equipped to the highest standard.