Kenya to Acquire Sh25 Billion Military Choppers from the US amid Calls for Austerity

Kenya is set to purchase 12 new military helicopters from the United States in a move that will cost taxpayers billions of shillings.

This comes at a time when the country is grappling with hard economic times as a result of huge budget deficit and increasing public debt.

A global defense magazine reports that Kenya will first get six of the 12 military choppers it sought in the $253 million (Sh25 billion) deal it struck with Washington and which got the approval of United States Congress in May,2017.

UK-based arms magazine IHS Jane's Defence Weekly reports that the six MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD530F Cayuse Warrior scout and light-attack platforms will be supplied to Kenya between April and August, 2019.

Arizona-based manufacturer MD Helicopters announced the contract for supply of the aircrafts on Thursday, the magazine reports.

Kenya will use the helicopters in its continued fight against Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants.The Sh25 billion deal includes acquisition of 12 the 12 choppers, machine gun pod systems, rocket launcher systems and assorted ammunition.

US Defence Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) said the helicopters will help Kenya “modernise its rotorcraft fleet in order to improve border security, undertake operations against Somalia-based jihadist group Al-Shabaab and contribute to the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).”