Somali Pirates: Kenya orders fighter jets and navy ships to protect territorial waters
December 16, 2008
Written by kenyanobserver, in AFRICA, Featured
Kenya’s Chief of General Staff, Gen. Jeremiah Kianga told reporters yesterday that the Kenyan government is deploying fighter jets and navy ships to protect it’s territorial waters against the Somali piracy menace.
The risks facing shippers docking at Kenya’s main port in Mombasa has driven up their insurance premiums which in turn make it expensive to dock in Mombasa. Goods transiting through Mombasa in turn also end up carrying a premium. This is according to Kenya Ports Authority’s Harbor Master Capt. Twalib Khamis while talking to AP at the same press conference.
Just how capable is the Kenyan Navy to deal with this situation? The chart below shows the current fleet of the Kenyan navy per Wikipedia and other sources (see below). The list is by no means exhaustive or authoritative as to the current set up of the Kenya Navy fleet and is meant for reference purposes only.
sources: wikipedia, supratechnic, militaryphotos.net, kenya ministry of defence, Associated Press
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KNS Shujaa |
Shupavu Class large patrol boat KNS Shujaa. Built to civilian standards in 1997 and armed with a 76mm and a 30mm gun in Kenya. |
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KNS Shupavu |
Shupavu Class large patrol boat KNS Shupavu. Built to civilian standards in 1997 and armed with a 76mm and a 30mm gun in Kenya. |
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KNS Nyayo (Kenya’s most advanced warship, at least until the KNS Jasiri arrives) |
Nyayo Class warship KNS Nyayo was delivered in 1986. Similar to Omani Province class(left on linked picture). Systems – Fire control (Netherlands); signaling, missile guidance( Italy) |
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KNS Tana |
Galana Class landing ship KNS Tana was delivered in December 1993 from Spain. |
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KNS Galana |
Galana Class landing ship KNS Galana was delivered in December 1993 from Spain. |
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KNS Umoja (background) |
Nyayo Class warship KNS Umoja was delivered in 1986. Similar to Omani Province class – (left on linked picture) |
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(1) Archangel class IPV (Inshore Patrol Vessel) Not actual Kenya Navy vessel |
12m long. Built by SAFE Boats International and donated by the the USA in 2006 to reduce gun and drug running. |
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(5) Defender class IPVs (Inshore Patrol Vessels) |
7m long. Built by SAFE Boats International and donated by the the USA in 2006 to reduce gun and drug running. |
| 5 Spanish built IPVs P943-P947 (not enough information is available to hunt for picture) | Procured in 1995, each is 12m long,with a top speed of 16kts, and armed with a 12.7mm machine gun. |
| 2 Personnel Tenders (not enough information is available to hunt for picture) | Built by Cowes in 1998, each can carry 136 passengers. |
See also – Where is the KNS Jasiri?
This is the best Navy south of the sahara .Good to be associated with you .Long live Navy
I AM A STUDENT FROM NYERI TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE TAKING A DIPLOMA COURSE IN ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING,I LIKE VISITING YUR WEBSITE SINCE THERE IS MORE TO LEARN ABOUT ENGINEERING HOPE TO JOIN YOU AFTER AM THROUGH WITH COLLEGE.I WISH KENYA NAVY SUCCESS AS THEY CONTINUE ON FIGHTING PILACY IN THE KENYA MARINE BOUNDARIES.
I recently saw that KENYA NAVY participated in INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY,yet people here have to visit your website to see these vessels.why can’t we have our own military celebrations to show this
navy navy gani hii mkebe zote
Hey soldier men.You are great people in our Kenyan forces. Ever since I have admired to be with you in your respective services but I will be there especially after completing my advanced diploma in Information Technology.
Congrats for your defensive and professional skill that you employ to defend our country and assist whenever crises arise.
An addition to that you are the most disciplined force in the country because of the high level your officers display both at work when they perform their duty and when out of duty to the society.
Nevertheless,the record has improved a lot beginning with the junior officer to the top level management of the officers.
I request that you give me a chance to serve in your forces.
Hi there. Great pics and info to go with them. As for Bwibo’s comments on the best navy in sub-sahara well I cant quite agree with that. I mean take a look at SA’s Navy or the Nigerians. The Ghanaians to show some able qualities with its corvettes
Navy, Navy forces congratulation for your hard work to defend this beautiful our beloved country from ill motive charaters. I admire you level of skills, professions and your discipline. It is my wish and prayers one of my children to join Navy forces in near future to contribute with the suport to defend our country from enemies. I love my country and i admire your work. I pray for entire forces GOD to continue blessing and give you good health
Beside the great assighnment of protecting our territorial waters, serving the great kenyan navy prepapres one to be eligible for international assighnments . The equiping there of is competitively seeked for by other great nations you may think of.
keep flying the flag high.
Like your courage men,but you need to go deep sea and wipe this pirates.They are menace to our business on the sea
I have always admired working in DOD of kenya never the less joining the the army has always been my dream job hope things turn out well this time after my dismisal in 2008 september as a tradesman over unknown circumstances otherwise goodluck to you all soldiers.
kudos Kenya Navy,and Kenyan Armed Forces as a whole we are proud of you despite all your incompletenesses,u r doing great job in S/sudan,the whole world knows what u are capable of,u r disciplined and professional, ur the best we could ever dream of, PROUD OF YOU GUYS!
i just dont understand why the manace of piracy has been a problem affecting kenya, if all the above investment is something to go by.This somalis will come inland and attack us still.
It is very embarrassing that the Kenya navy seems to be so seriously under equipped. All these gun boats they have bought cost the tax payers many times their real market value, thanks to corruption and opacity in tendering and procurement. They are all vulnerable to a shoulder fired anti-tank weapon fired from a canoe! They are not fitted with any defensive counter measures and their offensive systems are all outdated. General Kianga’s deployment of F5 jets to fight piracy is of no meaningful value at all. How do you board and inspect a pirate boat from these aircraft? How do you destroy a suspect seacraft in between fishing boats with cluster munitions? In brief, we have no response to the piracy menace. If it were not for the foreign navies, the port of Mombasa would long have been closed. The half hearted aproach to prosecute pirates in Kenya is not enough.
We people Abyssinia ( Ethiopia ). want to remind you this:
Never feel you are alone. We know this Al-Shabab are backed by Arabs and
Pakistans/Afganistans bastards. Armed with oil money. But, let say to you
never feel you are alone. We are with you at your shoulders in peace time
and war time. Your enemies are our enemies. your friends is our friends.
anybody who don’t like and hate Kenyans, must be enemy of all Africa.
To day is not like yesterday, when Arabs used to take as slaves in ports
East Africa. today Africa is strong.
Here is Ethiopia the black lion. ready whenever you call us.
Here is South Africa with superior militery technology. ready.
Home of Mandela.
Here is Negieria super power. Ready to support whenever needed.
And other Africans.
We are saying loud and clear again and again, He who attack Kenya will be
considered an attack to Ethiopia and all Africa.
That was what our founding father King Hail Salasia and H.E Joma Kenyatta
written.
God bless Kenya.