US Troops Set Up New Camp in Kenya to Boost Regional Security

US troops have set up a camp in Wajir County where they are expected to provide aerial surveillance and response.

A senior security source in the region intimated to Nation that the troops settled on Wajir due to its proximity to an international airport.

“We have the Americans and they chose Wajir because of the international airport that can easily help in quick responses. They will survey and respond to incidents in Garissa and Mandera from Wajir,” the source said.

“They are not new to this area. They just came in from Somalia and they understand the region well.” 

This comes two weeks after US President Joe Biden announced plans to deploy special forces to Kenya to support counterterrorism efforts in the region.

In a letter to Congress, Biden said the troops will collaborate with the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) in combating Al-Shabaab terrorists.

"In furtherance of counter-terrorism efforts, the United States continues to work with partners around the globe, with a particular focus on the United States Central and Africa Commands’ areas of responsibility,” the letter read in part.

It added: "…In this context, the United States has deployed forces to conduct counter-terrorism operations and to advise, assist, and accompany security forces of select foreign partners on counter-terrorism operations. United States Armed Forces are deployed to Kenya to support counter-terrorism operations in East Africa.”

It is not clear whether the troops in Wajir are linked to Biden’s communication.

Wajir’s camp is the second in the country after Camp Simba in Lamu, which hosts both American and Kenyan soldiers.