Kenya, Rwanda expand defence cooperation to include technology and innovation
General Kahariri commended the RDF’s transformation and adoption of technology in defence operations, describing it as a model for modern military preparedness.
Kenya and Rwanda have agreed to broaden their defence cooperation to encompass technology integration and joint innovation.
The agreement was reached during a three-day official visit to Kigali by Kenya’s Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), General Charles Kahariri, which began on Wednesday and concluded today.
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During the visit, General Kahariri held separate meetings with Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, and the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), General Mubarakh Muganga, at RDF Headquarters in Kigali.
“The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, with both sides agreeing to renew and expand the existing Defence Cooperation Agreement to include new areas such as technology integration and joint innovation,” the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) said.
General Kahariri commended the RDF’s transformation and adoption of technology in defence operations, describing it as a model for modern military preparedness.
“Innovation is now as critical as discipline on the battlefield,” he said, affirming the KDF’s readiness to deepen collaboration with the RDF in promoting regional peace and stability.
Kenya and Rwanda have long enjoyed cordial defence relations, which began, as noted by Defence Minister Marizamunda, when Kenya played a vital role in rebuilding Rwanda’s defence capacity following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
CDF-KDF General Charles Muriu Kahariri, centre in navy uniform, visits the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College (RDF CSC) in Nyakinama, Musanze District. (Photo: Rwanda Defence Force/X)
That partnership continues today through KDF’s ongoing support in professionalising the RDF via specialised training programmes.
On his part, General Muganga credited KDF mentorship for shaping the RDF into one of Africa’s most capable and professional forces, now ranked among the leading contributors to peacekeeping missions across the continent.
He also called for deeper collaboration to counter emerging threats, citing the current dynamic regional security environment.
The visit also saw General Kahariri pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide during a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Additionally, he delivered a lecture at the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) in Nyakinama, titled Positioning Africa in a Multipolar World: The Role of the Military in Africa’s Security and Development Amid Global Power Dynamics.
In his address, he urged African militaries to redefine their roles beyond traditional defence functions by shaping environments that foster security, stability, and economic growth.
“The military must help create conditions for economic advancement while remaining agile against asymmetric and hybrid threats,” he said.
The CDF further emphasised the need for enhanced cyber resilience, rapid crisis communication, and inter-agency cooperation to safeguard national interests in the current era of disinformation.
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