Defence Cabinet Secretary for Defence Aden Duale has allayed any fear that the government might be bringing old helicopters into the country.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Wednesday, Duale said the 16 helicopters from the US are new.
Duale however admitted that incidents of crashes involving helicopters in the last two years have been high.
He said as a result, the air commander had been tasked with conducting an evaluation of all air assets to inform decision-making by the government in terms of more purchases, servicing and training of pilots.
“We will not pick 50-year-old helicopters, before we get helicopters our technical team does an assessment,” Duale said.
The CS said the ministry has tasked the air commander to do an evaluation of all the air assets in order to plan on the servicing and training of pilots.
Duale stated that Kenya will be getting 16 new helicopters from the US to boost the air assets and protect the air space.
“We are getting 16 new different helicopters to boost our air assets, to boost capabilities of KDF, and protect our air space, to carry soldiers during operations and for engagements with the war against al-Shabaab in Somalia,” he said.
“We are also getting from the US 150 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles,” he added.
This is part of the deals advanced to Kenya by President Joe Biden's administration following the State visit by President William Ruto to Washington.
Kenya is scheduled to receive 16 US-manufactured helicopters between 2024 and 2025 to bolster its ability to provide regional peace and security and participate in peacekeeping missions.
