US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin arrived in Nairobi on Monday ahead of a planned series of meetings to discuss counter-terrorism operations.
Austin who is on a weeklong trip to Africa which has so far taken him to Djibout is scheduled to hold a meeting with his Kenyan counterpart Aden Duale.
He will later leave for Angola before concluding his trip on September 28.
He will also meet military and other personnel involved in counterterrorism operations in the country in particular at the Kenya-Somalia border.
Both Duale and Austin are scheduled to have a joint press conference at the defence headquarters in Nairobi.
Officials said Austin is set to engage with Kenyan defence officials on shared security interests and counter-terrorism efforts.
“This visit underscores the US Department of Defence's commitment to strengthening partnerships and enhancing regional security on the African continent,” said a statement from the US Defence Department.
Austin will also visit with US military personnel deployed to Kenya, reiterating the Department's appreciation and gratitude for their service and dedication to promoting peace and security in the region.
While in Djibouti, Austin said Somali forces have made “impressive progress” in the fight against al Shabaab but cautioned that the terror group still can “export terror from ungoverned spaces.”
“I think they (Somali forces) made more progress in the last year than was made in the previous five years,” Austin told reporters in Djibouti.
Austin met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Djibouti on Sunday.
Earlier, Austin met with the Djiboutian president and defence minister, thanking them for hosting the United States’ primary base in Africa and for supporting Somalia in its fight against extremist groups.
