Friday 06th February, 2026 11:09 AM|
Kenya hosted the Deputy Commander of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), Lieutenant General J. Brennan, in Nairobi on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.
The visit, hosted by the Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), General Charles Kahariri, marked Brennan’s first official trip to the country and focused on reinforcing defence cooperation between the two nations.
In a statement shared on X on Friday, February 6, 2026, KDF said the two leaders explored ways to enhance Kenya’s operational readiness and joint response to emerging security threats. They also examined avenues for training, capacity building, and strengthening defence systems across the region.
General Kahariri welcomed the visiting US military official to Kenya and highlighted ongoing initiatives within the Kenya Defence Forces to modernise defence capabilities.
“The Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), General Charles Kahariri, on 5 February 2026 hosted the Deputy Commander of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), Lieutenant General J. Brennan, during his maiden visit to Kenya,” the KDF said.
The leaders reaffirmed the strong and historic ties between the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and USAFRICOM, underlining their shared commitment to promoting peace, security, and stability both regionally and globally.
“During the visit, the two leaders held wide-ranging discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence relations, jointly addressing emerging and evolving security threats, and enhancing cooperation in training, capacity building, and operational readiness,” the statement added.
Kahariri noted that continued collaboration between the two militaries remains critical in tackling contemporary and future security challenges that affect Kenya, the Horn of Africa, and the broader continent.
“General Kahariri welcomed Lieutenant General Brennan to Kenya and reaffirmed KDF’s commitment to working closely with USAFRICOM and other strategic partners to advance peace and security across the continent,” the KDF confirmed.
The visit showcased Kenya’s commitment to building strategic partnerships while advancing defence modernisation programmes. It also highlighted the importance of international collaboration in addressing evolving threats, showing a renewed momentum in Africa’s regional security engagement.
“He highlighted Kenya’s ongoing defence modernisation programmes and underscored the importance of sustained international partnerships in addressing evolving security threats,” the KDF concluded.
Kahariri said engagement between the two militaries shows a long-standing partnership and reaffirms the shared goal of enhancing operational capabilities, intelligence sharing, and peacekeeping readiness in Africa.
