Denmark and Kenya Continue Cooperation to Strengthen Maritime Security

The cooperation between Denmark and Kenya, lasting for more than a decade, to strengthen maritime security in the western part of the Indian Ocean is set to continue and possibly expand. That is one reasons why the commander of the Kenyan Navy, Major General Poul Otieno, is visiting Denmark these days.

“We have had historically close ties in the political and socioeconomic areas. And also in the military field, where your government, by activating the Peace and Stabilization Program for the Horn of Africa, has created a framework to develop cooperation between the Kenyan military and the Danish defense. The area off the Horn of Africa and the western part of the Indian Ocean are areas where our interests coincide and where we face a number of threats to maritime security,” says Major General Poul Otieno.

Kenya has a leading role when it comes to maintain maritime security off East Africa. This is significant for Denmark as a major maritime nation, but maritime security is also of paramount importance in terms of creating stability and growth in the region. Cooperation with Kenya also makes sense at this level.

"Kenya is a stable anchor for Denmark in a region that is experiencing increasing influence and impact from other actors such as Russia, China, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. A good cooperation with Kenya helps strengthen Denmark's position in Africa, and therefore it is of great importance that Denmark and Kenya continue and expand the good partnership that has now lasted for more than 10 years," says the chief of the Operations Staff in the Defense Command, Major General Ulrik Hellebjerg.

Sustainable Development through Maintenance and Training

Since 2013, Denmark has established a close cooperation with Kenya, primarily aimed at building capacity in the Kenyan Navy. The Danish Defense has a maritime advisor attached to the Kenya Navy, and Denmark has contributed to a number of projects that have strengthened the Navy's operational capacity.

"For both Denmark and Kenya, it has been important that the cooperation has the character of a partnership, where Kenya is not merely a recipient of aid. We have a shared understanding that the capacity-building program should deliver long-term and sustainable solutions. That is why Denmark has not only donated, for example, a navigation simulator to the Kenyan Navy, but also, together with the Kenyans, ensured sustainability through maintenance agreements and training of Kenyans," says the chief of the Naval Command, Rear Admiral Henrik Ryberg.

With Danish support, Kenya has also achieved full membership of the US-led coalition, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), in Bahrain. This has given Kenya the opportunity to enter into mutually binding partnerships on combating illegal maritime activities, including piracy. This contributes to increasing the East African countries' own responsibility for solving these problems.

"We have contributed to CMF with planning and intelligence. Now we want to go further and contribute with actual maritime assets in the form of ships, and that is something we have discussed today," says Poul Otieno.

Kenya Aims to Build Its Own Ships

Kenya would like to expand and develop its capacity to build naval vessels itself. Therefore, the visit to Denmark has a strong industrial focus. Major General Poul Otieno is visiting the Danish Defense Ministry's Material and Procurement Agency, the Danish industry organization for the maritime industry, and a number of companies in Denmark with maritime expertise. The aim is to identify new opportunities for strategic partnerships with commercial actors in the maritime field.

"Denmark has technology that is useful for the platforms we need in our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, and we would like Denmark's assistance in developing our shipbuilding industry. It needs to be scaled up, it needs to be more efficient, and it needs to be profitable so that our shipbuilding industry becomes one of the best in East Africa," explains the Navy commander.

The cooperation between Kenya and Denmark is currently planned to continue until 2026. It is expected that, as an element of the Danish government's new strategy for strengthening engagement in Africa, it will be extended.