European Union provides €20 million to Kenyan army
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Tuko
The European Union has pledged €20 million to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Kenya Defence Forces, William Ruto announced on 12 November. The funds are to be provided before the end of the year through the European Peace Facility, according to the Kenyan president.
The European Union has pledged €20 million, equivalent to about 3 billion Kenyan shillings, to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the Kenyan army. President William Ruto announced the commitment on Thursday 12 November at State House in Nairobi, during a meeting with EU delegation heads, according to Tuko.
The funds are to be channelled through the European Peace Facility and should be provided before the end of 2026. William Ruto also said the EU had approved an additional €75 million contribution in April 2026 to missions led by the African Union in Somalia.
EU contributions to African Union-led operations have reached nearly €2.8 billion since 2007, according to William Ruto. The Kenyan president nevertheless said that the African mission supporting and stabilising Somalia continues to face financial and operational constraints, particularly for aviation, logistics, troop maintenance, medical services and equipment.
William Ruto also announced that Kenya and the EU wanted to transform their relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The European Union absorbs 21% of Kenyan exports and is Kenya’s leading export market, particularly for tea, coffee, horticultural products and cut flowers, according to the president.
