US Expands Military Base in Kenya

The United States has begun a $70 million runway expansion at a military base in coastal Kenya, reinforcing its counter-terrorism footprint in Africa.

The project is underway at Manda Bay airbase in Lamu County, a Kenya Defence Forces facility that hosts US troops and serves as a key operational centre against Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group active in Somalia and the wider region.

The expansion follows Washington’s 2024 designation of Kenya as its first major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) ally in sub-Saharan Africa, a move that deepened defence and diplomatic cooperation without a formal security treaty.

The US Department of State awarded a $71.3 million (Sh9.2 billion) contract in July 2024 for the design and construction of the expanded airfield.

Once complete, the new runway will nearly triple the length of the existing strip, which is more than 30 years old and cannot accommodate larger aircraft required for modern military and humanitarian missions.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi described the project as a foundational investment in long-term economic and security stability.

“With reliable security the economy is going to grow, jobs will be created,” Mudavadi said during the ceremony.

The expanded runway, expected to be completed by mid-2027, will support a wider range of aircraft and missions, including rapid response deployments, logistics operations and joint efforts against terrorism, piracy and other threats to regional stability.

The US expands its military base in Kenya.

Speaking at the project’s groundbreaking on Thursday, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the upgrade showcased both countries’ resolve to deter attacks and protect shared interests.

He described the base as a concrete symbol of joint defence efforts and a clear message to hostile actors.

“We have to show those who would attack us that we are resolved to defend ourselves,” he said.

During his three-day visit, Landau also praised Kenya’s role in international security efforts, particularly its leadership of the United Nations-backed mission in Haiti.

He stated that Kenya had played a central role in deploying forces and planning a new gang-suppression operation aimed at restoring order and supporting Haiti’s national police.

Kenya currently leads the multinational mission seeking to curb gang violence that has overwhelmed large parts of the Caribbean nation.