Kenya Defense Force to receive heavy equipment training from Japan

The Kenya Defense Force will benefit from training provided by 18 instructors from Japan. 

There will be 17 instructors deployed from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and one support personnel employee from the Secretariat of the International Peace Cooperation Headquarters, Cabinet Office. The June 6 training will instruct Kenya Defense Force engineering personnel on heavy equipment operation that is required for engineering activities.

The training is part of a project by the United Nations for African Rapid Deployment of Engineering Capabilities and is being executed by the U.N.’s Department of Field Support. The U.N. has lacked heavy equipment in engineering units during recent peacekeeping operations. This has become a challenge when it comes to conducting humanitarian assistance activities and guaranteeing the safety and security of peacekeepers.

In an effort to move past these challenges, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed at the Summit Meeting on U.N. Peacekeeping Operations in September 2014 that a commitment to the contribution of rapid deployment of the equipment and personnel with engineering experience will be made.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a financial donation to the U.N. for obtaining of heavy equipment.