The Kenyan Government has announced that the September military training exercise by UK forces will proceed as planned, Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi said on Tuesday in a statement.
"The Government of Kenya welcomes the decision for the planned military training exercise at the British Army Training Unit Kenya to proceed," he said in a statement.
Mudavadi added that the outcome reflects the strength of the longstanding partnership between Kenya and the United Kingdom, built over decades on mutual respect, constructive engagement and a shared commitment to peace and security.
"It demonstrates that trusted partners can work through challenges in a spirit of goodwill and continue moving forward together. The Kenya United Kingdom defence partnership continues to advance Kenya's national interest. It strengthens the capabilities of the Kenya Defence Forces, contributes to regional peace and security, supports Kenyan jobs and businesses, and provides significant economic benefits to communities that host these activities," Mudavadi explained.
The statement, however, does not say whether the required licenses have been renewed.
Last week, the UK Ministry of Defence said it had cancelled the training exercise in Laikipia after the Government of Kenya failed to issue the licences required for the exercise.
"The UK highly values its relationship with Kenya, which is underpinned by mutual benefit, respect and cooperation. The UK-Kenya Defence Partnership is one of the great strengths of our relationship. Our joint training and operations with the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) are keeping both Kenyan and British people safe. It is with regret that the necessary licences required to allow training to take place in Laikipia later this year have not been forthcoming. As a result, the planned training will now be conducted at an alternative location outside Kenya,” an MOD spokesperson said.
The government of Kenya at the time said it was working behind the scenes to solve the issue.
"We value the close cooperation and shared commitment between Kenya and the United Kingdom that have enabled this positive outcome. Our focus remains on strengthening a partnership that delivers lasting benefits for both our nations and our people. As we look ahead, Kenya remains committed to working closely with the United Kingdom to deepen our longstanding defence cooperation and advance our shared commitment to peace, security and regional stability," said Mudavadi.
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