- Kenya Navy
-
Kenya Navy is the naval branch of Kenyan military forces. It is headquartered in Mombasa. Kenya Navy was established on December 12, 1964, exactly one year after Kenya gained independence. It was preceded by the colonial Royal East African Navy.[1] Following the disbanding of the REAN in 1962, the East African Railways and Harbours Co-operations assumed control of naval operations in the former East African colonies until the independent states established their own navies.[2]
In 1972 At State House, Mombasa, Major JCJ Kimaro is promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by the HE President Jomo Kenyatta and appointed as the first commander of the Kenyan Navy. He died in a tragic road accident in 1978 and Major General E S Mbilu took over the command of the Kenya Navy until his retirement in 1988 where, Brigadier JRE Kibwana is promoted to Major General and appointed the Navy Commander replacing Major General E S Mbilu.
Kenya Navy has Mtongwe base in Mombasa, Shimoni, Msambweni, Malindi, Kilifi and since 1995 [3] another base located in Manda (part of Lamu Archipelago).
Contents
Ranks
The nomenclature of ranks in the Kenyan navy is not in line with traditional naval ranks; it is more in line with land forces assignments:
Officer ranks
- Second Lieutenant (Midshipman)
- Lieutenant (Sub-Lieutenant)
- Captain (First Lieutenant)
- Major (Lieutenant Commander)
- Lieutenant Colonel (Commander)
- Colonel (Captain)
- Brigadier (Commodore)
- Major General (Rear-Admiral)
- Lieutenant-General (Vice Admiral)
- General (Admiral)
Fleet
Current Vessels
KNS Shujaa and KNS Nyayo during India’s International Fleet Review.
- Madaraka Class small missile boats
United Kingdom
- P3100 KNS Mamba - classed as Mamba Class
- For three other boats see retired Madaraka Class boats below
Delivered from 1974-1976 (Mamba was delivered in 1976) and built by Brooke Marine along with three others of the class.[4] KNS Mamba has a non-functioning missile system and is currently used as an OPV, remained of the class decommissioned [5][6] and placed in reserve status.[7] Armed with 4 Gabriel SSM, 1 dual 30 mm AA.[7]
- Nyayo Class United Kingdom
- P3126 KNS Nyayo
- P3127 KNS Umoja
March 2009 to July 2011 in refit at Fincantieri's Muggiano shipyard in northern Italy.
Built by Vosper Thornycroft these missile boats were originally Province Class and were delivered in 1987. Similar to Omani Province class and due a refit soon.[6][8] Armed with 4 Otomat SSM, 1 76 mm OTO DP, 1 dual 30 mm AA, 2 20 mm machine guns[7]
- Shupavu Class large patrol boats
Spain
- P6129 KNS Shujaa
- P6130 KNS Shupavu
Built to civilian standards in 1997 and entered service in 1997. Armed with a 76mm and a 30mm gun in Kenya.[6]
- Galana Class/River Class medium landing ship (LSM) /coastal logistics ships Spain
-
- L39 KNS Tana
- L38 KNS Galana
Built by Construnaves-CEN, Gondan, Spain and delivered in December 1993 from Spain and entered service in 1994.[3][6] Used for logistics.[7] These ships are unarmed and used for amphibious warfare.
- Archangel class RHIB (jet boat)
United States [9]
-
- 1 - 12 metre IPV
Built by SAFE Boats International and donated by the USA in 2006 to reduce gun and drug running.[6]
- USGS Defender Class RHIB with outboard motors United States [10]
-
- 5 - 7 metre IPVs were built by SAFE Boats International and donated by the USA in 2006 to reduce gun and drug running.[6]
- P101 Class IPVs Spain
-
- P943
- P944
- P945
- P946
- P947
These ex-Spanish Navy patrol boats were built by ARESA (Arenys del Mar, Barcelona) from 1978 to 1982 and procured by Kenya in 1995. Each is 12m long, with a top speed of 16kts, and armed with a 12.7mm machine gun.[6]
- Personnel Tenders United Kingdom
2 built by Cowes (
United Kingdom) in 1998, each can carry 136 passengers.[6]- YTB Harbour Tug United Kingdom
-
- KNS Ngamia
Built by James Lamont, Port Glasgow in 1969 for Mombasa Port Authority and transferred to the navy in 1983.
Missiles:-
Future Vessels
- Jasiri Class survey ship Spain
Ordered in 2003 but not accepted due to problems. Problems have been corrected and the ship now awaits delivery in the port of Sada, Spain. The ship is well armed enough to also function as an offshore patrol vessel.[6]
Past Vessels
The Kenya navy has replaced many older vessels from the navy's early years, mostly transfers from the Royal East African Navy via the Royal Navy.
-
- KNS Nyati
Training vessel was donated by the Royal Navy in 1964. It was formerly known HMS Aberford.[8] It was sold for scrapping in 1971.
- Vosper Thornycraft 110' training craft United Kingdom
Training craft was retired in 2000.
- Simba Class patrol crafts United Kingdom
-
- P3110 KNS Simba - retired 2000
- P3111 KNS Chui
- P3112 KNS Ndovu
These boats were delivered from Britain in 1966. These ships were built by Vosper Thornycroft. KNS Simba was decommissioned in 1997.[11]
- Madaraka Class missile boats United Kingdom
-
- P323 KNS Harambee
- KNS Jamhuri
- P3121 KNS Madaraka
These missile boats were delivered in 1976 along with KNS Mamba, and were built by Brooke Marine.[4] KNS Madaraka was decommissioned in 2000, and KNS Jamhuri and KNS Harambee in 2002.[5][6]
Notable members
Commander of the Navy
- Commander E M C Walker, RN 1964-1967
- Commander A A Pearse, RN 1967-1969
- Commander W A E Hall, RN 1969-1972 - last Royal Navy officer to command Kenyan Navy
- Lieutenant Colonel J C J Kimaro 1972-1978 - first Kenyan to head navy
- Major E S Mbilu 1978-1988
- Major General J R E Kibwana 1988-1998
- Major General Aboud Abdalla Rafrouf 1998-2002
- Major General Pastor O Awitta 2002-2006
- Major General Samson Jefwa Mwathethe 2006-
References
- ^ Kenya Navy: History
- ^ History of the Kenyan Navy
- ^ a b Kenya Navy: Memorable events
- ^ a b Google earth placemarks: Kenya Navy
- ^ a b Daily Nation, March 7, 2002: Naval vessels, spare parts to be sold
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Jane's Fighting Ships 2008
- ^ a b c d Kenya
- ^ a b Daily Nation, Saturday Magazine, August 28, 1999: An introduction to the marine forces
- ^ Archangel Class
- ^ Defender Class
- ^ Kenya Navy: Online museum
External links
Categories:- Military of Kenya
- Navies by country
- Military units and formations established in 1964
- Kenyan government agencies
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
