Kenya has been steadily enhancing its military capabilities through the acquisition of new and second-hand armoured vehicles, a clear reflection of its determination to address both internal security challenges and its growing role in regional peacekeeping.
In recent months, the Kenyan Army has taken delivery of DCD Springbuck armoured personnel carriers from South Africa and M1117 armoured security vehicles from the United States, marking a notable expansion of its fleet. These developments come amid a long-standing partnership with the US, though Kenya’s evolving relationships with other global powers have raised questions about the future of this cooperation. The arrival of the Springbuck armoured personnel carriers has been a key part of Kenya’s efforts to tackle persistent threats in its northern regions.
In early February this year, a convoy of these vehicles was observed heading towards Nairobi, setting the stage for their official commissioning on 6 March. The ceremony took place at the General Service Unit Headquarters in Ruaraka, led by Interior Cabinet Secretary Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen. At least six Springbuck Standard Duty models were showcased, with Murkomen noting their contribution to a reported 70% reduction in banditry in northern Kenya.
The vehicles are now deployed to combat cattle rustling, banditry, and terrorism, issues that have long disrupted stability in these areas. The Springbuck Standard Duty model, a 4×4 armoured personnel carrier produced by South Africa’s DCD Protected Mobility, is well-suited to Kenya’s rugged landscapes. Weighing 9,000 kg with a payload capacity of 1,500 kg, it boasts B6 ballistic protection, capable of withstanding 7.62×51 mm rounds, and can endure a TM57 landmine blast under the hull or two under any wheel. Powered by a 194 hp MWM 6.10T 6.45-litre six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, it is the lightest in its series yet robust enough for demanding operations. Kenya has been operating Springbuck vehicles for at least five years, with several surviving improvised explosive device attacks along the Somali border.
In 2019, DCD revealed it was manufacturing additional Standard Duty and Heavy Duty models for East and West African clients, though specifics were scarce at the time. The Heavy Duty variant, weighing 13,000 kg with a 2,500 kg payload, offers B7 ballistic protection against 30.06 armour-piercing rounds and is powered by a 286 hp MWM 6.12TCA 7.2-litre engine, achieving speeds of up to 110 km/h with a 600 km range. Official confirmation of Kenya’s use of these vehicles came in March 2024, when the Ministry of Interior commissioned eight Springbuck APCs for internal security operations. Alongside the Springbuck acquisition, Kenya has also bolstered its forces with M1117 Guardian armoured security vehicles from the United States.
In June this year, videos emerged showing at least six M1117s travelling in convoys on Kenyan roads, a sign of their integration into the Kenyan Army. This transfer is part of a broader US military aid package announced in mid-2024, following a historic visit by Kenyan President William Ruto to the United States. The package includes eight UH-1 ‘Huey’ helicopters, eight MD500 helicopters, and approximately 150 M1117 vehicles, with deliveries scheduled between late 2024 and mid-2025. These assets are intended to enhance Kenya’s capacity for regional peace and security, as well as its participation in peacekeeping missions.
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the Interior Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kithure Kindiki, officially commissioned and dispatched the first batch of DCD Protected Mobility Springbuck armoured personnel carriers as part of Operation Maliza Uhalifu.
The M1117s, drawn from US Excess Defence Article stocks, are being refurbished through a joint effort between the Kenya Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and the Massachusetts National Guard, under the State Partnership Programme. In late May, a team of maintenance experts from the Massachusetts National Guard visited Kahawa Barracks in Kenya to share expertise on maintaining the M1117s. The collaboration has included inventory checks, fault assessments, and advanced maintenance tasks such as weapons configuration, boresighting, and the removal of power packs and turrets.
The National Guard has also assisted Kenyan forces in fabricating tools for turret stands and lifting brackets, strengthening local capabilities. Last year, Kenya acquired 144 M1117s from the US, and once fully restored, these vehicles are expected to be deployed along the Kenya-Somalia border for counterterrorism operations, working alongside US forces. Developed by Textron Marine & Land Systems, the M1117 Guardian was introduced into the US Army’s Military Police inventory in 1999 and saw extensive use in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. It can carry two crew members and eight passengers, and is equipped with a 40 mm MK-19 grenade launcher and a 12.7 mm machine gun. Protected against anti-tank mines and ballistic threats, it is powered by a 260 hp Cummins 6CTA8.3 diesel engine paired with an Allison MD3560 six-speed transmission, enabling speeds exceeding 100 km/h.
The Massachusetts National Guard, which previously operated these vehicles, has described them as a vital component of Kenya’s mounted infantry operations, particularly in challenging border regions. The US has been a steadfast partner in Kenya’s military development, providing substantial support over the years. Since 2020, Washington has allocated $230 million in civilian security and defence funding to Kenya, including ongoing advisory and training assistance from the Massachusetts National Guard for Kenyan pilots, logistics personnel, and the Disaster Response Battalion. In 2020, the US donated 23 vehicles, including 15 Mack trucks and eight up-armoured Humvees, to aid Kenya’s fight against Al-Shabaab.
A January 2020 report from the US Congressional Research Service detailed that Kenya had received $400 million in military equipment and counterterrorism training over the previous decade. More recently, in July last year, Kenya received the first two of eight pledged UH-1 helicopters, which will support air assaults, troop deployment, and supply missions. In 2024, the US Southern Command delivered 24 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected MaxxPro vehicles to Kenyan forces in Haiti, part of a multinational security mission addressing gang violence. Back in 2018, the US also provided 12 Bastion Armoured Personnel Carriers to improve Kenya’s border surveillance. Despite this robust partnership, Kenya’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, granted by the US last year, is now facing scrutiny.
On 1 August, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch introduced legislative amendments calling for a review of this status, citing concerns over Kenya’s deepening ties with China and Russia. The amendment requires the US President to submit a report to Congress assessing whether Kenya’s policies align with American national security goals, a process that could influence the trajectory of future military cooperation. Kenya’s acquisition of the Springbuck and M1117 vehicles reflects a practical approach to building a more capable defence force.
