The Kenya Navy has successfully concluded its participation in the Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 exercise, held on April 18 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The multinational maritime drill aimed to boost regional security and deepen cooperation among partner navies. The operation involved a variety of coordinated maneuvers and tactical activities designed to address real-world maritime threats.
Among the key components of the exercise were Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations, which bolstered participants’ abilities to conduct counter-piracy missions and maritime interdictions. Replenishment at Sea (RAS) drills tested logistical precision and inter-ship coordination, while ship maneuvering exercises demonstrated the participating navies’ preparedness and adaptability.
Approaches to Towing (APTOW) exercises were also conducted, equipping crews with critical skills to manage support and recovery operations at sea.
Kenya’s contribution was led by Kenya Navy Ships (KNS) JASIRI and SHUPAVU, alongside the elite Special Boats Unit (SBU), who played vital roles in executing the complex drills.
Commanders from the Indian, Kenyan, and Tanzanian fleets praised the high levels of professionalism and cooperation displayed throughout the exercise.
They affirmed that such joint maritime engagements are key to enhancing regional partnerships and strengthening collective responses to evolving maritime security threats in the Indian Ocean.
