Commander of Combined Task Force 151 visited senior representatives of the Kenyan Government and Defence Forces to discuss regional maritime security.
Rear Admiral Ito, Commander of the Japan-led task force, visited the Kenyan Navy as well as meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo, and the Chief of Kenyan Defence Forces, General Samson Mwathethe. They discussed maritime security and the importance of sharing information and maximising cooperation across agencies and partners in the region.
Rear Admiral Ito toured the new Kenyan flagship, KNS Jasiri, which can be operated as both a command platform as well as an offshore patrol vessel. He discussed maritime security tactics and the role the Kenyan Navy’s flagship would play in future operations with the Commanding Officer of KNS Jasiri, Major Dengereko.
The collaborative approach has proved effective in preventing acts of piracy. There have been no successful pirate attacks since May 2012. However, it is assessed that the threat could re-emerge without an effective counter piracy deterrent presence.
Image: CMF