# Combating Al-Shabaab: Kenya and Ethiopia gets US hardware

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2020/10/combating-al-shabaab-kenya-and-ethiopia-gets-us-hardware/
- Published: 2020-10-06T00:30:28+01:00
- Author: Patrick Kenyette

The militaries of Kenya and Ethiopia has been gifted several US armored vehicles
and equipment respectively to enhance it’s fight against Al-Shabaab.

Ethiopia on 29 September received $2.9 million worth of training and equipment to
the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) to support it’s fight against violent
extremism.

The equipment donated includes Toyota Land Cruisers, troop transports, ambulances,
cargo and fuel trucks, water trailers, operations centre computers, and night vision
devices. A photo showed nine Iveco trucks and 12 Land Cruisers being handed over.

“This donation is just one way the US government supports Ethiopian partner forces
in their fight against terrorism,” the US Embassy said. “The United States and Ethiopia
have developed a long-standing partnership that includes military training exercises
and a spectrum of activities to support peacekeeping and counterterrorism objectives.”

The United States and Ethiopia have developed a long-standing partnership that includes
military training exercises and a spectrum of activities to support peacekeeping
and counterterrorism objectives. 

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Meanwhile, on 17 September, the United States donated 23 vehicles to the Kenya Defence
Forces (KDF), including 15 Mack trucks and eight up-armoured Humvees. They were 
handed over by US military representatives to the KDF in Nairobi.

KDF Commander of the Western Command Major General Joseph Kivunzi was on-hand to
receive the vehicles.

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According to a report released by the US Congressional Research Service in January,
Kenya has received $400 million in military equipment and counter-terrorism training
support over the last 10 years.

In 2018, the[ US government gave the KDF 12 Bastion Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) ](https://www.military.africa/2020/10/combating-al-shabaab-kenya-and-ethiopia-gets-us-hardware/military.africa/2018/12/us-donates-12-bastion-armoured-personnel-carriers-to-the-kenya-defence-forces-kdf)
to improve border surveillance.

The KDF has also various assistance packages including bomb detection and disposal
in addition to advanced counter-terror training from the United Kingdom.

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