The Kenya Navy is the naval branch of the Kenya Defence Forces. It is headquartered in Mombasa.
Kenya Navy has two major bases for its fleet with it being headquartered in Mtongwe Naval Base, Mombasa and Manda Bay (part of Lamu Archipelago) being the second naval base. The navy also operates naval stations in Shimoni, Msambweni, Malindi and Kilifi. The Kenya Navy fleet is organized into two fighting squadrons and a logistical support squadron, namely the pioneer 66 Squadron, the 76 Squadron and the 86 Squadron all supported by a Special Operations Squadron, the Fleet Maintenance Unit and a newly formed elite Marine Ranger Regiment.
History
As Great Britain wound down her colonial control in East Africa, the Royal East African Navy (REAN) was established in 1953, covering Kenya Colony, Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Following the disbanding of the REAN in 1962, the East African Railways and Harbours Corporation assumed control of naval operations in the former colonies until the independent states were ready to establish their own navies. The Kenyan Navy was established on 12 December 1964, exactly one year after Kenya gained independence.
In 1976, the Second Squadron, made up of the missile boats KNS Madaraka, KNS Jamhuri and KNS Harambee left Portsmouth to sail to Kenya, arriving later that year. In late August 1976, during the delivery voyage, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi was approached to request assistance for two of the patrol boats, off the Somali coast and not having "enough fuel to reach Mombasa."
In 1972, Major JCJ Kimaro was promoted to lieutenant colonel by President Jomo Kenyatta and appointed as the first commander of the Kenyan Navy. He died in a road accident in 1978 and Major General Eliud Mbilu took over command until his retirement in 1988 when Brigadier Joseph Kibwana was promoted to major general.
In 2010 it was reported that the United States Navy Naval Special Warfare Group 4 was assisting the creation of a new Kenyan Special Boat Unit within the Kenya Navy.
On 4 September 2012 the Kenyan Navy shelled the Somali city of Kismayo. This was part of an African Union offensive to capture the city from al-Shabab fighters during the War in Somalia. The harbour was shelled twice and the airport three times. According to a UN report the export of charcoal through Kismayo is a major source of income for al-Shabab.
Commanders of the Kenya Navy
Fleet
Current Vessels
Jasiri, survey ship and offshore patrol vessel, Gondan shipyard Spain. KNS Jasiri (P3124) Built as a Jasiri Class oceanographic survey vessel at a cost of Sh4.1 billion. Given to Euromarine, a company associated with Anura Pereira, the tender was awarded irregularly, as part of the Anglo-Leasing scandal. Military analysts say a similar vessel could have been built for Sh1.8 billion. Later fitted with armament at the navy's Mkunguni dockyard. Commissioned into the navy on 29 August 2012. It currently is the largest vessel in the fleet. It is 85 meters long, displaces 1400 tonnes, and has a maximum crew of 81.
P400 Class offshore patrol vessel
KNS Harambee II (P3134) Former French P400 class patrol vessel La Rieuse. Donated by France for anti-piracy patrols .
Shupavu Class large patrol boats, Gondan shipyard Spain. P3129 KNS Shujaa P3130 KNS Shupavu Built to civilian standards in 1997 and entered service in 1997. Armed with a 76mm and a 30mm gun in Kenya.
Nyayo Class missile boats
P3126 KNS Nyayo
P3127 KNS Umoja
Built by Vosper Thornycroft, these are similar to the Omani Province class, and were delivered in 1987. Armed with 4 Otomat SSM, 1 76 mm OTO DP, 1 dual 30 mm AA, 2 20 mm machine guns From March 2009 to July 2011 these ships underwent an extensive refit at Fincantieri's Muggiano shipyard in northern Italy, during which their surface-to-surface missile (SSM) systems were removed, drastically reducing the vessels to an OPV configuration. Ships of this class are 57 meters long, displace 450 tonnes and have a crew of 45.
Madaraka Class small missile boats
P3100 KNS Mamba – classed as Mamba Class
(For three other boats see retired Madaraka Class boats below) Delivered from 1974–1976 (Mamba was delivered in 1976) and built by Brooke Marine along with three others of the class. KNS Mamba has a non-functioning missile system and is currently used as an OPV. Remainder of the class decommissioned and placed in reserve status. Formerly armed with 4 Gabriel SSM, 1 dual 30 mm AA.