The United States and the government of Kenya have officially launched a major $71 million infrastructure project to upgrade the runway at the Manda Bay military base.
The project forms part of broader efforts to strengthen operations against Al-Shabaab, which remains active in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region.
Senior military officials from both countries on Thursday inaugurated construction work that will extend the airstrip to a length of 10,000 feet, allowing the base to accommodate larger and heavier aircraft.
Funding for the project is being provided by the U.S. Department of State and is intended to enhance regional logistics capacity, troop mobility, and operational reach.
Major General Dagvin R.M. Anderson of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, described the expansion as a critical step in deepening security cooperation between the United States and Kenya.
“It is clear how this project strengthens Kenya’s security, but it also enhances security for all of us,” General Anderson said.
Kenya’s Ministry of Defence characterized the project as a “strategic and effective step,” noting that the upgraded runway will enable heavy cargo aircraft to operate more easily from the base. Officials say this will significantly boost military support capabilities and joint operations conducted along the Kenya–Somalia border.
In recent years, the United States has increased investment in its military facilities in Kenya, particularly those located near the Somali border, from where joint counterterrorism operations against Al-Shabaab are regularly conducted.
The strategic importance of Manda Bay became evident in January 2020, when Al-Shabaab militants carried out a major attack on Camp Simba, located within the same area.
That attack killed one U.S. service member, Henry Mayfield Jr., and two Department of Defense contractors, Dustin Harrison and Bruce Triplett.
Following the assault, AFRICOM and Kenyan security forces significantly tightened security at both Manda Bay and Camp Simba in order to safeguard personnel and counter persistent terrorist threats.
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