The United States has launched a $70 million (Ksh9 billion) expansion project at the Kenya Navy Manda Base, Manda Bay, Lamu County, to strengthen regional security.
In a statement, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) said that a groundbreaking ceremony for a 10,000-foot runway expansion at the military base was held on Friday, January 30, 2026.
The ceremony was presided over by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, alongside United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Thomas Landau and Defence Cabinet Secretary Roselinda Soipan Tuya.
In his address, PCS Mudavadi underscored the strategic and symbolic strength of the Kenya–United States partnership, stating that the runway expansion is a critical investment anchored on security, reliability, and long-term stability.
U.S. and Kenya begin expansion of Manda Bay military base
He noted that the runway expansion project will stimulate economic growth in Lamu County and nationally, improve livelihoods, and enhance the prospects of the LAPSSET Corridor, positioning the region as a key hub for trade and development.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Landau, on his part, commended the Kenyan government for the partnership, describing the project as a tangible demonstration of the enduring bilateral relationship.
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He noted that the expanded runway capability will strengthen security cooperation, enhance joint operational reach, and support sustained economic growth.
“We have to show those who would attack us that we are resolved to defend ourselves,” he said.
CS Tuya stated that the Kenya Navy Base Manda Bay one-way runway expansion project is a decisive force multiplier for Kenya–United States defence cooperation.
She emphasised that the expanded runway will significantly strengthen regional peace and security by enhancing rapid response, surveillance, and joint operational capability against piracy, human trafficking, and threats to maritime trade, underscoring the two nations’ firm and enduring commitment to regional stability.
“The runway expansion is a pivotal strategic capability upgrade that significantly enhances operational reach, heavy airlift capacity, and forward logistical sustainment for joint and partner military operations. It strengthens rapid force projection, persistent operational presence, and time-sensitive response across the theatre,” KDF said in a statement.
“The project directly reinforces readiness, interoperability, and sustained operational effectiveness across peacetime, crisis, and contingency operations. Collectively, these gains consolidate Kenya–United States defence integration and establish a credible, enduring security posture in support of regional peace, security, and stability.”
Details of the expansion
Manda Bay’s expansion is slated to unfold over the next decade. These projects include 294,000 square feet of airfield construction, increased fuel storage capacity, and lodging expansion to accommodate hundreds more U.S. service members on a rotational basis.
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In July 2024, the U.S. State Department awarded a $10 million (Ksh1.29 billion) contract for the 10,000-foot runway capable of supporting Northrop F-5 and Boeing C-17 operations.
This would more than double the current runway length, significantly expanding the capabilities of fighter, reconnaissance, and transport aircraft in the region.
The development comes months after Kenya was designated as the first major non-NATO ally in sub-Saharan Africa by former U.S. president Joe Biden, a move expected to enhance military cooperation and diplomatic engagement, even in the absence of a formal security treaty.
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