Mombasa — The newly established Kenya Marine Commando Unit (KMCU) of the Kenya Navy demonstrated its naval prowess in an impressive display for visiting royals, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, at the Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa.
The ceremony was graced by President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel as well as Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and other top government officials.
During the event, King Charles III was granted a salute by the Guard of Honour, followed by the playing of both the British and Kenyan national anthems, performed by a military band.
The KMCU, whose first cohort completed their basic training on May 5 of this year, is an elite fighting force equipped with specialized skills for executing amphibious operations aimed at weakening and disrupting potential threats to Kenya. Their operations span across countering terrorism on both land and sea.
The captivating demonstration began with a meticulously executed simulation of a covert amphibious landing on an enemy position. The battle group then encountered a simulated enemy force and engaged in a fierce firefight to neutralize the threat before skillfully withdrawing from the kill zone.
Following the intense simulation exercise, the marines regrouped at a secure location, where the commanding officer conducted a comprehensive headcount to ensure that every officer within the unit was accounted for.
Notably, the UK-funded obstacle course constructed at Mtongwe Naval Base is a near identical replica of the course used at the Royal Marine Commando training base in Lympstone, UK.
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The UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership, an ambitious five-year agreement delivering mutual benefits for both nations, underpins this training program. It is further supported by the Defence Cooperation Agreement that provides the framework for such training initiatives.
The Kenyan Navy primarily operates from Mtongwe and Manda Bay. According to a statement from the UK Embassy in Kenya, the partnership with the Royal Navy encompasses various training programs in the UK and the deployment of training teams to Kenya.
The Royal Marines stationed at the Mtongwe Naval Base are dedicated to Operation SETWISE, a comprehensive initiative that aims to create the Kenya Marine Commando Unit over a five-year period, with assistance from the United States.
This impressive display underscores the importance of international cooperation in building the capabilities of the Kenyan military and enhancing its readiness to address security challenges effectively.
