U.S. Okays Possible Military Aircraft Deal with Kenya

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $418 million sale to Kenya of aircraft with weapons and related support, a Pentagon agency told Reuters on Monday.

According to the The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the approval was for the possible sale of up to 12 Air Tractor AT-802L planes and two AT-504 trainer aircraft, a weapons package, technical support and program management.

Kenya, once seen as a stable ally of the United States in East Africa, a popular destination for American tourists to go on safari and sunbathe on the beaches of the Indian Ocean; has been facing threats from Al-Shabab terrorists over the last 3 years.

The group has waged an insurgency in Somalia since 2006 to impose its version of Islamic law. It used the country as a staging ground to carry out attacks in Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy, and Uganda.

Kenya is the fourth largest recipient of U.S. aid for civilian counterterrorism operations, with $43 million earmarked over the past four years, and an additional $117 million for counterterrorism and border security programs.

About Geraldine Boechat 2664 Articles
Senior Editor for Medafrica Times and former journalist for Swiss National Television. former NGO team leader in Burundi and Somalia