Parliament urges Kenya Navy to boost maritime security capacity amid emerging threats

The National Assembly's Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee has urged Kenya's Navy to enhance its maritime security capabilities due to emerging threats in the country's waters. The committee conducted an oversight visit to the Kenya Navy Headquarters in Mombasa on August 31, 2026, to evaluate the nation's maritime security measures, capital projects, and overall operational capacity.

Committee chairperson Nelson Koech emphasized the strategic and economic significance of Kenya's maritime domain, noting that the Navy operates across extensive oceanic areas with various responsibilities, balancing national defense, economic security, and regional stability.

The committee discussed the difference between sustenance funding and modernization funding, with the Navy stating that while recent budget increases have been significant, a considerable portion is consumed by personnel expenses and maintenance of current equipment. The committee stressed the need for sustained investment in new capabilities, surveillance systems, vessels, and infrastructure to effectively carry out its constitutional mandate.

Koech highlighted the importance of bolstering inter-agency collaboration among entities within Kenya's maritime domain, emphasizing that improved coordination would enhance maritime surveillance, information sharing, and incident responses within the country's territorial waters and the broader maritime space.

Furthermore, the committee learned about the establishment of the Naval Training College as a regional center of excellence for maritime security education, aiming to improve professional training through standardized curricula and alignment with international certification standards. During the visit, the committee also inspected Kenya Shipyards to assess its operational capacity, project delivery, and management of government resources for maritime infrastructure.

Officials emphasized that the Mombasa and Kisumu facilities are crucial for strengthening domestic shipbuilding, repair, and maritime engineering, helping reduce reliance on external services and promoting regional maritime industry growth. The committee's oversight mission aimed to identify the requisite policy, institutional, and budgetary support to bolster the Navy and Kenya Shipyards, with Koech reiterating the country's commitment to safeguarding its maritime interests.