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Kenya Army - Order of Battle

From a basic strength in the mid-1970s of four infantry battalions, the army's combat units by 1982 had increased to two armored battalions, one armored reconnaissance battalion, an air cavalry battalion, five infantry battalions, and two artillery battalions, in addition to engineer, transport, and communications units. The battalions and their component companies were mixed and matched according to operational needs and operated throughout the country under the command of two brigade headquarters: one at Gilgil near Nakuru and one at Nanyuki. The army expected eventually to expand to three brigade headquarters as funding became available, and eventually an armored brigade was formed.

By some reports [The Military Balance 2000/2001, International Institute of Strategic Studies, p 293; and Africa Research Bulletin, 1-30 September 2000.] the army was organised (under recent restructuring) into two divisions, with one armoured brigade, two infantry brigades, one independent infantry battalion, one artillery brigade, one AD artillery battalion, one engineer brigade, two engineer battalions, one airborne battalion and one independent air cavalry battalion. But as of 2009 the fine folks at Orbat.com reported "We have not as yet identified either of the two division HQs that many sources say have been raised. Instead, there is an Eastern and a Western Command."

Kenya’s Pledged Force (KPF), which was declared ready following the first ever evaluation and validation exercise in the region and the African Union in general, includes a Signal Squadron, one Mechanized Infantry Battalion (including tank and armoured personnel carriers) and a one Level II Hospital. The criteria for evaluation and validation included planning, training, troops pre-deployment, deployment, command and control and principles of PSO.

Friday 5th September 2014 opened a new chapter in Kenya’s Peace Support Operations (PSO) after the country’s pledged force to the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) became the first one in the region to be declared ready for deployment after a vigorous evaluation and validation exercise that took place in Archer’s Post, Samburu County.

The Evaluation and Validation Exercise dubbed Eneza Amani 2014 (Swahili for Spread the Peace) follows a resolution that was reached in Kigali, Rwanda, in August 2014 by Defence Chiefs who committed an entire 5,000 troops who will constitute the EASF which brings together 10 regional countries (Burundi Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, Comoros, Seychelles and Somalia).

The KDF historically operated under two operational commands, the Western Command (WESTCOM) and Eastern Command (EASTCOM). These bifurcated the operational responsibilities to understand security issues that could escalate to an extent where they could eventually be deployed internally and externally; thus enabling them to understanding internal and external threats relevant in these national fronts. The creation of the Nairobi Command was in the same manner due to the unique security threats posing in Nairobi. There are no cases of military taking over from from the police in the WESTCOM or EASTCOM.

Eastern Command (Eastcom)

Eastern Command Was established in 1997 and located in Embakasi Garrison. During its establishment, the concept of Eastcom was that it was to be a fully – fledged headquarters staffed for operational assignments. In 2000 it was reorganized leaving a skeleton staff for the purpose of advising the commander and activated when the need arises.

The role of the command is to defend the Eastern region of Kenya against any external or internal threat. The areas of responsibility include the Nairobi area Kajiado, Eastern Province, Northern Eastern Province and Coastal Regions. General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the rank of Major General heads the Command. The Headquarters has two main branches, Operations and Logistics.

Western Command (Westcom)

The Western Command was established in Januray 1997 as a result of reorganization of the Kenya Army, which took place at that time and was promulgated through Defence Council Instructions dated January 22, 1997. The reorganization divided the country into two commands, the Western Command and Eastern Command.

The Western Command was then located in Lanet at the Armed Forces Training College. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) then had dual functions of both Western Command as well as Commandant of AF TC. In 2002, Western Command moved to Kenyatta Barracks (Gilgil Garrison).

The role of the command is to defend the Western region of the country against any external or internal threats. The areas of responsibility include the Rift Valley (excluding Kajiado District), Western and Nyanza Province. Their secondary roles include coordinating and mobilization with paramilitary and civil agencies in dealing with disasters.

General Officer Commanding of the rank of Major General heads the Command. The Headquarters has two main branches, Operations and Logistics. It is administered by a camp administration unit headed by an officer of the rank of Major.

Nairobi Metropolitan Command

Nairobi Metropolitan Command, currently under formation, is an organizational concept intended to leverage the competencies of KDF in the accomplishment of its constitutional obligations. It will operate in a manner similar to the Eastern and Western Commands of KDF within the proposed Area of Responsibility (AOR) in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area and its environs. This AOR contributes approximately 60% of Kenya's GDP and is the location of a number of vital strategic installations.

The creation of the Command is expected to facilitate the acquisition of specialized capability on standby for the purposes of rapid response and preventive posturing to counter emerging threats ranging from international or domestic terrorism, natural and man-made disasters, hostage taking, cyber threats and biological/ chemical threats. The Command will improve coordination of efforts between KDF and other agencies and authorities in the circumstances envisaged by Article 241 (3) (b) of the Constitution.

At 4pm on Saturday of 21 September 2013, the first team from the Kenya Defence Forces Special Regiment made up of 40 Ranger Strike Force, 30 Special Forces and 20 Parachute Battalion, was deployed to Westgate Mall. The KDF men who also included men from Lan'gata Barracks Maroon Commandos [a military band belonging to the 7th battalion of the Kenyan Army, the senior most band in Kenya], 75 Artillery Battalion men based in Embakasi and men from Moi Airbase in Eastleigh, came armed. They carried powerful guns, had anti-tank weapons, thousands of rounds of ammunition and helicopters hovering over the air.

This is when things allegedly went haywire and began to border on total embarrassment. The soldiers opened fire upon police officers from the Recce Squad - perhaps because the officers were out of uniform and were mistaken for terrorists. Constable Martin Kithinji was shot dead.

In August 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta created a new military command to combat rising crime and terrorist threats inside the country despite criticism from security experts, civil society groups and a section of politicians who termed the move an attempt to militarise the country by letting the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) take up roles assigned to the Kenya Police Service (NPS).

The Nairobi Metropolitan Command, under KDF, specifically to deal with security threats such as terrorism, drug trafficking and proliferation of small arms in the capital. It was not clear if the command took up its roles given that attacks with and around the city had been on the increase and with the KDF’s visibility doubtful in crime scenes within the city.

The Government had argued that the creation of the command was necessitated by the need to have a well co-ordinated and trained force on standby to deal with emerging threats. Security personnel was often caught off guard by terrorists, but the Government argued the command was the ultimate solution that would not only be responding to attacks but help in forestalling the attacks as well.

The proposed functions of the Nairobi Metropolitan Command shall be to effectively discharge the constitutional mandate of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) as set out in Article 241(3) and in this regard to:

1. Establish response capability to crises and disasters;
2. Act as a focal point to cyber defence operations;
3. Conduct information operations;
4. Co-ordinate KDF's efforts 1n Counter terrorism operations;
5. Ensure comprehensive protection of military vital installations; and
6. Strengthen relationships between KDF and other agencies and authorities involved in emergency and disaster management operations.

The Statute Law Miscellaneous (Amendment) Bill 2014 seeks to delete sections of Article 241(3), which provides for the procedure for local military deployment, essentially diluting the input of the National Assembly in case the Government wants to use the military internally.

Pursuant to Article 241(3) of the Constitution, the military can be deployed locally on two grounds: Assist and co-operate with other authorities in situations of emergency or disaster or to restore peace in any part of Kenya affected by unrest or instability.

While the Kenya Defence Forces Act is clear that under the above circumstances, the National Assembly can only be informed whenever there is internal deployment to assist in emergency or disaster, the provisions of the Constitution are specific when it comes to deployment of the military internally to restore peace since the latter requires express authority of Parliament.

This meant that the Government through the Cabinet Secretary for Defence will only be required to merely gazette the start of the operation and de-gazette the end of the exercise without necessarily seeking MPs approval in what is seen as part of the Government's strategy to cut down military deployment bureaucracy and scale up the use of the military to combat run-away crime in the country.