Written By Lisa Murimi
Royal Marines from HMS Lancaster provided specialist boarding training to the Kenyan Marine Commando Unit during the ship’s visit to the Port of Mombasa.
Experts from Plymouth-based 42 Commando, who specialize in board, search, and seizure operations, shared their knowledge through training and practical demonstrations.
The Kenyan Marine Commando Unit learned tactics frequently used in front-line operations with the Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster, the Royal Navy’s permanent presence in the Middle East, which regularly polices the region’s waterways and chokepoints.
Captain Will Hitchcock RM, commander of HMS Lancaster’s Royal Marines Boarding Team, expressed the significance of the joint training: “It is a privilege to train with the Kenyan Marine Commando Unit and to be ready for the ‘fight tonight’ as is the focus of both of our Commando units. As two proud raiding forces, it is crucial to continue to share experiences and build interoperability to provide solutions to shared problems.”
Commander Chris Sharp, Commanding Officer of HMS Lancaster, added: “Our visit to Kenya is a fantastic opportunity for Lancaster’s Royal Marines to train and exercise boarding operations with the Kenyan Marine Commando Unit, contributing to the UK and Kenya’s joint commitment to improve regional stability and security.”
These exercises, in addition to the basic training the Kenyans receive, show the UK and Kenya’s continued commitment to building a strong, capable, and adaptable Kenya Defence Forces.
The creation of the Kenyan Marine Commando Unit (KMCU) is a five-year partnership between the UK and Kenya, aimed at establishing a self-sustaining training cycle.
In May 2023, the KMCU made history with the graduation of its first cohort of Kenyan Marines, completing a rigorous training programme similar to that of the Royal Marines.
The US Military has also played a key role in equipping the KMCU to a high standard.
British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, praised the collaboration: “It’s fantastic to see that the UK and Kenya have taken advantage of this opportunity to add serious value to the Kenyan Marines training programme – a great example of how our security partnership is making a real difference to Kenya’s military capacity and capability. Together, we’re going far – making Kenya, the UK, and the region safer and more secure.”
HMS Lancaster’s visit to Mombasa, part of Combined Task Force 150, highlights the close, historic relationship between the UK and Kenyan Armed Forces and their joint efforts to enhance regional security.
