The Kenyan government has agreed to buy military equipment worth Ksh12.5 billion from the United Kingdom, according to a disclosure from the British government.

In its statement on Tuesday, the UK said that the two countries had reached a £70 million (Ksh12.5 billion in the current exchange rates) defence deal as part of a commitment to increased defence and counterterrorism collaboration, including joint training and the creation of a new counterinsurgency, terrorism and stability operations centre.

"Defence sales worth over £70m were agreed during the visit, supporting manufacturing jobs in County Durham, Northamptonshire and Surrey. Kenya hosts the UK’s most significant military footprint in Africa, including a facility that trains 3,000 UK troops a year," the UK stated.

The deal that is the largest in the last decade followed talks between President William Ruto and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday, July 1.

President William Ruto and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signing a strategic partnership on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

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Kenya and the United Kingdom have had defence agreements dating back to the country’s independence in 1963, with various treaties, including the Bamburi Understanding in the 80s cemented by the hosting of British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).

Over the years, Kenya has mainly imported small arms and light weapons from the United Kingdom in recent years, with no major purchases of heavy military equipment such as tanks, fighter jets, or naval vessels. 

Data from recent years shows the UK’s military exports to Kenya remain modest, with small consignments of bombs, grenades, ammunition and firearm parts dominating the trade.

The most notable acquisition came in 2017 when the UK authorised the export of 3,000 assault rifles to Kenya in a deal valued at approximately £9.45 million, about Ksh168 billion in the current exchange rates.

Additional shipments included pistols, sporting rifles and various gun components, with UN records indicating that Kenya received at least 55 pistols in 2015 and a further 15 handguns in 2017.

In 2023, Kenya imported arms and related equipment worth about Ksh10 million from the UK, including roughly Ksh5 million in munitions such as grenades and bombs, and smaller amounts spent on gun parts and other minor weapons.

In May 2024, Kenya signed a deal with a UK-based company to supply modern military tools and machines. The deal signed will involve the delivery of various items, such as communication systems, weapons, and protective gear for soldiers.

Officials said the equipment will be used by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to help them handle both internal and external threats more effectively.

President William Ruto during the cadets commissioning parade at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet on May 31, 2024.

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