In order to enhance national security and combat terrorism, the Kenyan government has taken a bold step by acquiring a fleet of DCD Protected Mobility Springbuck armoured personnel carriers. On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the Interior Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kithure Kindiki, officially commissioned and dispatched the first batch of these state-of-the-art vehicles as part of Operation Maliza Uhalifu.
This strategic acquisition is part of a broader initiative by the Kenyan government to fortify its defense capabilities against the growing threats of terrorism, banditry, and organized crime. The Springbuck armoured carriers are renowned for their robust design, capable of providing enhanced protection for the officers on the front lines.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by key figures, including Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo, Inspector General of the National Police Service Japhet Koome, and other high-ranking officials. Their presence underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to neutralizing threats to the nation’s peace and stability.
With an investment of Ksh.7.6 billion over the past six months and a projected allocation of Ksh.29.4 billion over the next three years, the Kenyan government is demonstrating its dedication to the Police Equipment Modernisation (PEM) programme. This programme aims to equip the police force with advanced protective gear and mobility equipment, including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones, gunship helicopters, mine sweepers, and personal protection equipment.
The focus on equipping and kitting frontline officers, especially those deployed in Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) across various regions, highlights the Kenya Kwanza Administration’s priority to ensure the safety and security of its citizens.
The Springbuck SD is the Standard version, the HD is the Heavy Duty and XD is the Xtra Duty, with performance, payload and protection increasing with each model. The 4×4 SD has B6 ballistic protection (up to 7.62×51 mm rounds) and can withstand a TM57 landmine directly under the hull, or two under any wheel. The SD is the lightest in the series and weights 9 000 kg and has a 1 500 kg payload. It is powered by the MWM 6.10T 6.45 litre six cylinder turbocharged diesel delivering 194 hp.
Kenya’s military has been operating the Springbuck for at least four years, with several surviving improvised explosive device (IED) hits in operations along the border with Somalia. However, until now there has been no official confirmation of this.
This new acquisition is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the capacity of Kenya’s defence and security forces. Over the years, Kenya has acquired a plethora of armoured vehicles.
In 2021, Kenyan Ministry of Defence ordered 118 Hizir armoured vehicles worth around Sh7.7 billion ($69 million). Three companies had applied for the contract to supply vehicles to Kenya, including firms from South Africa and North America but only Katmerciler met the user specifications.
The Kenyan Army operated a varied array of armoured vehicles consisting of Puma M26-15, WMZ 551BSI, Mamba MK5, Bastion and CS/VP 14, all introduced into service between 2010 and 2019, and will deploy the Hizir vehicles for counterterror operations against the al-Shabab militant group.
Meanwhile, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops operating in Somalia under African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) received six International Armoured Groups (IAG) Guardian Xtream 4×4 armoured personnel carriers. The IAG Guardian Xtream is a United Arab Emirates-made armored vehicle.