Kenya and the United States will sign a Defence Cooperation Agreement on Monday aimed at strengthening counter-terrorism efforts in furtherance of regional security interests .
The move is part of the efforts to further strengthen cooperation in defense and security amid escalating threats across the globe.
Kenya’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the signing ceremony will take place at the Defence Headquarters in Nairobi, where Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale will host his American counterpart Lloyd J. Austin III.
“The CS Defence (Kenya), Hon. Aden Duale and the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III, will sign a Defence Cooperation Agreement and thereafter hold a joint press conference,” MOD said on Saturday.
Kenya is a key US ally in the region, particularly in the joint efforts to combat terrorism, including the fight against Al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group.
Austin’s visit to Kenya is part of his week-long tour of Africa, which also includes stops in Djibouti and Angola from September 23 to 28.
During his stay in Nairobi, Secretary Austin is scheduled to engage in discussions with Kenyan defense officials, with a primary focus on shared security interests and collaborative efforts in counterterrorism, an earlier statement from the Department of Defense indicated.
The visit aims to strengthen the partnership between the US and Kenya in addressing regional security challenges.
