UK hands over high-speed patrol boat to the Kenya Navy
The boat will bolster Kenya Navy’s ability to tackle piracy threats and help improve security in the region.
British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner today handed over a patrol boat to the Kenya Navy in Mombasa. The boat is an interceptor, capable of quick reaction and rapid interdiction of suspect vessels. It will bolster the Kenya Navy’s ability to tackle piracy threats and other illegal activity in the area. It carries a fully armed 4-man boarding party who can carry out search and detain tasks. It will be used for patrolling tasks, but with its powerful sea-search radar it can Detect, Deter and Interdict.
During today’s launch, Dr. Turner said, “I am delighted to hand over this high-speed patrol boat today. I expect it to help Kenyan authorities in their efforts to maintain security around the water border areas between Kenya and Somalia. This should make the Kenya Coast safer for everyone, including the large number of British tourists that visit the coast every year to enjoy the fantastic beaches, culture, water-sports and seafood on offer here. Tourists need to know that their safety is being assured. With increased confidence, more British tourists will visit the coast, which in turn will be good for both the Kenyan and UK tourism industry and jobs.”
This is the second boat that the UK government is gifting Kenya. In July 2012, the UK Government gave a similar craft to the Maritime Patrol Unit of the Administrative Police in Lamu.
Terrorism is a global threat and the UK Government is keen to continue its close working relationship with Kenya in order to help improve security in East Africa. We are working to strengthen aviation security, improve judicial systems, further police reform, reduce piracy and work together to tackle the terrorist threat. A more secure Kenya means a more secure UK.
Support by the UK to improving security in Kenya over the last year has included high-technology maritime security surveillance equipment to the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF), eight Explosive Trace Detection machines, security training courses to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the Anti-Terrorist Police Unit (ATPU), a new police operations centre and vehicles for the ATPU.