Major General Otieno emphasized that the mission fulfilled the Navy’s responsibility to safeguard territorial waters, protect maritime interests, and advance naval diplomacy across the region.
Major General Paul Otieno, Commander of the Kenya Navy, officially received the crews of KNS JASIRI and KNS SHUPAVU at the Mkunguni Jetty in Mombasa on 11 March 2026. The arrival marked the conclusion of a multi-month deployment involving Exercise Jitegemee XXVII and the multinational Operation BAHARI MOJA 03.
The task unit departed Kenya in early February 2026 to conduct a three-leg training and security circuit across the Western Indian Ocean. During the mission, the vessels visited Port Victoria in Seychelles, Port Louis in Mauritius, and Diego Suarez in Madagascar. The deployment served a dual purpose: providing blue-water experience to Junior Officers Under Training (JOUTs) and leading an active enforcement of maritime law.
The ships also integrated into Exercise Cutlass Express 2026, a large-scale manoeuvre sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). This participation allowed Kenyan sailors to operate alongside the Seychelles Coast Guard and Air Force, the Mauritius National Coast Guard, and the Madagascar Navy. The final phase in Diego Suarez, which concluded on 4 March 2026, transitioned from tactical drills to naval diplomacy before the ships began their transit back to the Kenya Navy Fleet (KNF) headquarters.
Operation BAHARI MOJA functions as a preventive maritime initiative under the Safe Seas Africa programme. It focuses on disrupting narcotics trafficking, illegal fishing, and irregular migration through coordinated patrolling. This 2026 iteration followed the notable success of Operation BAHARI SAFI in October 2025, where Kenyan authorities intercepted over one tonne of methamphetamine.
The deployment utilised two of the Kenya Navy’s primary surface assets. The KNS JASIRI, an 85-meter offshore patrol vessel, acted as the primary command platform for the mission. It is the largest ship in the Kenyan fleet, equipped for extended endurance and command-and-control tasks. It was accompanied by the KNS SHUPAVU, a 60-meter SHUPAVU-class large patrol boat, which provided agile support following its recent major overhaul. President William Ruto rededicated the SHUPAVU in July 2023 after it became the first major vessel serviced at the Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL) facility in Mombasa.
These platforms provided the practical classroom for the “Exercise Jitegemee”, which translates from Swahili as “sustain yourself”, which requires a persistent naval presence to secure territorial waters. The exercise bridges the gap between theoretical instruction at the Kenya Naval Training College and the realities of blue-water operations. By integrating this training into the U.S.-led Exercise Cutlass Express 2026 (CE26) in February, the Kenya Navy allowed its cadets to practice maritime domain awareness (MDA) and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) tactics alongside international partners. Junior officers practised navigation, damage control, and boarding procedures in a multinational environment.
Major General Otieno emphasised that the deployment was a milestone for the professional development of the next generation of naval leaders. He noted that operating in a multinational environment requires high standards of teamwork and technical discipline. The ceremony also honoured the long-term human element of the force, as KNF Master at Arms Warrant Officer Class One Peter Mundia stood his final watch aboard KNS JASIRI, concluding 38 years of service.
The successful return of the task group shows the Kenya Navy’s increasing role as a security lead in the Western Indian Ocean. This operational shift aligns with the 60th-anniversary commitments made by the presidency in December 2024 to modernise the fleet and expand the force’s reach to protect the national “Blue Economy.” The Navy’s ability to sustain two vessels on a multi-port regional mission emphasises its improved readiness and logistical independence.
The deployment emphasises Kenya’s shift toward becoming a regional security provider rather than just a coastal observer. By coordinating with the Regional Coordination and Operations Centre (RCOC) in Seychelles and the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar, the Kenya Navy is testing its ability to process and act on shared intelligence. The technical data and intelligence gathered during Operation BAHARI MOJA 03 will be analysed by the RMIFC to refine future patrol patterns. This integration is vital for monitoring the strategic corridors of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
As the 2026 training cycle concludes, the focus shifts to the next phase of fleet renewal, focusing on integrated drone surveillance for coastal monitoring. During the Navy’s 60th anniversary in December 2024, the government committed to further investments in advanced technologies to counter dynamic threats. The performance of KNS SHUPAVU after its local refit suggests that domestic maintenance capabilities will play a larger role in future fleet sustainment.