US official commissions upgrade of Lamu Military Base to boost operations

Construction of a new 3.5-kilometre runway at the Kenya Navy base in Manda Bay, Lamu County, officially began on Thursday following a groundbreaking ceremony led by senior Kenyan and United States officials.

The project was commissioned by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who was accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, Kenya Navy Commander Maj Gen Paul Otieno, Air Force Commander Maj Gen Bernard Waliaula, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander Gen Dagvin R.M. Anderson, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns, and Lamu Governor Issa Timamy.

Once completed within the next 18 months, the upgraded airfield is expected to be fully self-sufficient and capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft, including fighter jets and heavy transport planes.

Officials described the project as a major U.S. government investment aimed at enhancing Kenya’s security capacity and strengthening regional stability, particularly in countering threats posed by groups such as al-Shabaab.

The base is located about 100 kilometres from the Kenya–Somalia border, a region that has experienced cross-border attacks.

While the total cost of the upgrade was not disclosed, officials said more than Sh1 billion will be spent on the project.

Landau urged contractors to complete the work within the agreed timelines, saying he hoped to return to witness the facility’s launch.

“I would love to see the first airplane land and take off from here. We need results, and we must move after breaking ground,” he said.

Landau noted that the project represents a shared investment in security and economic stability for both countries.

“This is a win-win situation for the United States and Kenya. We are investing in infrastructure that strengthens security here and beyond,” he said, adding that both nations face common security challenges.

“We have to show those who attack us that we will defend ourselves. The new capabilities here will make a huge difference.”

He said the partnership in the project is valuable and provides the foundation for security and investments.

The new facility will have a 3.5-kilometre runway, a control tower, a reliable power supply, and other facilities. It will be able to accommodate larger aircraft, including fighter jets.

The upgraded facility will include a 3.5-kilometre runway, a control tower, reliable power supply, expanded fuel storage, and accommodation facilities.

The works cover 294,000 square feet of airfield construction and expanded lodging to support hundreds of U.S. service members deployed on a rotational basis.

The current runway, built 33 years ago, is less than half the size of the new one and was designed for small aircraft, helicopters, and lightly loaded C‑130s, limiting its ability to support modern military and humanitarian operations.

In July 2024, the U.S. State Department awarded a $10 million contract for a 10,000-foot runway capable of supporting Northrop F-5 and Boeing C-17 aircraft.

Officials said additional funding has since been allocated, more than doubling the current runway length and significantly expanding fighter, reconnaissance, and transport aircraft capabilities in the region.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said the base will greatly enhance airlift capacity and logistics.

“This is essential for operational readiness and aligns with Kenya’s defence policy as well as regional and international peace efforts,” she said, thanking the U.S. for its continued support.

She noted that Kenya’s coastal and Horn of Africa security environment remains complex, with terrorism, piracy, trafficking, and threats to shipping requiring collective responses.

Mudavadi said the airfield will remain a Kenyan asset and urged local communities to support the project.

“It will accommodate more aircraft and is more versatile. It is good for the region,” he said.

Gen Anderson said the groundbreaking fulfilled a commitment discussed during a previous meeting with President William Ruto.

“I am happy to see the project finally take off,” he said.

The upgrade also includes replacing tents with containerised housing units and constructing modern sanitation facilities near Camp Simba.

The improvements form part of a broader initiative to enhance security, sustainability, and operational readiness for deployed personnel.

Camp Simba, located near Manda Bay, was attacked by al-Shabaab militants in January 2020, marking the first direct attack on U.S. military personnel in Kenya. Since then, security measures at the facility have been significantly reinforced.

During the attack, at least two Americans were killed and seven aircraft destroyed.

Located at Manda Bay in Lamu County, Kenya, the base is a strategic U.S. Forward Operating Location (FOL) established in 2004 to support joint counter-terrorism, maritime security, and regional training with the Kenyan Defence Forces.

The camp operates with a joint-service team, integrating U.S. Army, Air Force, and Navy personnel alongside the Kenyan Navy.

Following the 2020 attack by al-Shabaab, security measures and base defenses have been reinforced. Enduring infrastructure at the U.S. forward operating location is vital to enhancing interoperability and will enable Kenya’s continued growth as a strategic military partner, with the capacity to maintain security in the region against threats like al-Shabaab, officials said.

The Camp Simba attack occurred pre-dawn at Magagoni Airfield near Camp Simba on January 5, 2020.

Approximately 30–40 al-Shabaab militants assaulted Camp Simba, which was home to around 100 U.S. personnel along with an undisclosed number of Kenyan troops. It was the first targeting of U.S. military personnel in Kenya by al-Shabaab.

Camp Simba personnel also engage in local projects, such as school construction and medical outreaches, to strengthen community ties.

Established in 2004, Manda Bay is a U.S. Forward Operating Location supporting joint counter-terrorism, maritime security, and training operations with the Kenya Defence Forces. It hosts U.S. Army, Air Force, and Navy personnel working alongside the Kenyan Navy.

This came as the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced the appointment of Selam Demissie as its new Regional Managing Director for East Africa, based in Kenya.

Demissie will oversee DFC projects aimed at advancing market-driven growth and strengthening U.S. economic partnerships across the region.

“Kenya is a strategic partner and a regional anchor for advancing U.S. interests in East Africa,” said DFC CEO Ben Black, noting that sub-Saharan Africa accounts for over $10 billion of DFC’s investment portfolio.

Landau said a stronger DFC presence in Kenya will help advance U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives by mobilising private-sector investment to promote long-term stability and prosperity in the region.

Landau had earlier met President Ruto, other government officials, and Kenya police who had served in the Haiti mission.