Gen. James Kabarebe Minister of Defence and Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Chair of Council of Defence and Security Ministers on 5th September 2014 attended a Validation Exercise for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Pledged Forces to the Eastern Africa Standby Force.The Exercise codenamed “Eneza Amani” was conducted at Isiolo, Samburu County in Kenya.
Kenya pledged a Mechanized Battalion, two troops of Signals, a Level Two Hospital and Formed Police Unit (FPU) to the Eastern Africa Standby Force.
The KDF validation exercise attended by His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of the Republic of Kenya as Chief Guest demonstrated key Pledged Forces Capability that will be used by the Eastern Africa Standby Force Member States in addressing security challenges in the region.
During the recent EASF Policy Organs Meetings held in Kigali, the EASF Member States committed 5000 military and police forces. Burundi contributed an Infantry Battalion, Kenya a Mechanized Battalion while Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda contributed a Motorised Battalion each. Other Combat Support and Combat Support Services pledged include Two Level Two Hospitals, CIS, Combat Engineers and Special Forces. The Member States also pledged four Formed Police Units, Military Observers and Individual Police Officers. Eastern Africa Standby Force is to attain Full Operational Capability (FOC) by December 2014.
