Members of the National Assembly are this week set to debate a report on Kenya Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the government of Seychelles.
The report from the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations which is at the second reading stage, recommends that the House approves the DCA signed between the two governments on July, 18, 2022.
Committee Vice Chair Major (Rtd.) Bashir Abdullah, who moved the motion on adoption of the report, said the DCA would help entrench the already existing cooperation between the two countries, and open a new frontier to enhance Kenya’s Defence capabilities especially for the Kenya Navy.
“Seychelles and Kenya share a common border at sea. Therefore, being neighbours, it is imperative that they maintain structured defence cooperation for their mutual benefit,” said Bashir.
The Committee observed that globally, bilateral DCAs have emerged as the most common practice of institutionalized defence cooperation.
DCAs establish broad defence-oriented legal frameworks between parties thus facilitating cooperation in defense policy coordination, research and development, joint military exercises, education and training, arms procurement, and exchange of classified information.
Kajiado Central MP Elijah Memusi, who seconded the motion on approval of the DCA, said both countries were obligated to safeguard discipline and adherence to law and order for troops deployed to joint training exercises
The DCA will also allow for strategic sharing of intelligence for individual and mutual-defence benefits.
At the same time, the Committee has also called on Kenya’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Habitat in Nairobi to strengthen collaboration with state departments that handle projects in its areas of interest.
Speaking during a visit to the Mission, Memusi (KajiadoCentral), who chaired the visit session, said such collaborations would help promote mutual growth and benefit both for the country and the Mission.
During the visit, committee members conducted a site inspection of the Mission to assess the progress and challenges faced in the execution of its mandate. They also sought to explore the opportunities available for the country through the Mission’s activities.
The primary focus of Kenya’s Permanent Mission to UNHabitat is to represent and advance Kenya’s interests in the United Nations, with a particular emphasis on sustainable urbanization and human settlement issues.
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