Sh4.6bn Navy ship arrives after a journey of three weeks

Also read: Military pomp as Sh4bn naval ship set to be unveiled

The Kenya Defence Forces declared Jasiri’s arrival ushers in an era in terms of boosting capacity to defend the country and enhancing its role within Amisom in Somalia.

The warning

“Jasiri has capabilities and capacities that we did not have hitherto. If there are some people out there thinking they can come to our waters and worry us, let them know that things can get very tough for them,” warned General Julius Karangi, the Chief of the Defence Forces.

KDF top brass declined to divulge details of the ship’s capabilities but sources at the Department of Defence earlier told the Daily Nation the ship is fitted with long-range cannons, missile launchers, machine guns and sophisticated radar and communications systems.

“It is actually the best among war ships owned by navies in this part of Africa with the exception of South Africa,” a military official who cannot be named told Business Daily at Mkunguni.

Sea traffic at the Kilindini habour was halted for some time as the grey warship with the Kenyan flag emblazoned on its twin chimneys slowly made its way past the Mtongwe Navy Jetty on its way to Mkunguni, in the company of a fleet of Navy war ship and patrol boats.

The celebrations later shifted to Mkunguni where prayers were made for the safety of the ship and its crew and speeches made.

The occasion was attended by Navy Commander Major General Ngewa Mukala, Kenya Airforce Commander Major General Joff Otieno and Army Commander Major General J.K. Kasaon.

Also present were members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations.

The team included Mr Adan Keynan (chairman) and members Charles Kilonzo, Wilson Litole, Mohamed Hussein Ali and Martin Ogindo.

General Kianga said the history and controversy that has dogged the acquisition of the battle ship was a thing of the past and Kenyans should now take pride in being the owners of a battle ship loaded with cutting edge-technology that puts it ahead of many other ships when it comes to sea-based warfare.

“The history of Jasiri is known to Kenyans and all manner of things have been said and happened concerning Jasiri since 2003 to date.

“It is not our intention to go back in time; this is not the time to say this and that about Jasiri. Suffice it to say that we have acquired this ship to use in the defence of our country.”

He said KDF’s engagement in Somalia under the banner of AMISON will continue until security was fully restored in the country.

“We are fully and actively engaged in Somalia and will not come out until the country is secured. We are on the homestretch.”

He commended the government for modernising the country’s defense forces through purchase of military hardware for its sea, land and air forces and pledged that the military will reciprocate by diligently undertaking duties Kenyans expect of it.

“In return, we will live up to our oath of office and that is to defend this country to the last man and woman. Let Kenyans feel secure in as far as their protection from external aggression is concerned,” he said.

Mr Keynan said his committee fully backed the government efforts to upgrade the military and give all due support to the men and women in uniform as they defend Kenyans from all forms of external threats.

He revealed that the country almost suffered a major embarrassment last November when the ship was almost auctioned due to unmet financial obligations on the part of the government.

However when the reports hit the international headlines, things changed and resources were mobilised and work on the ship completed.

“That (the auction) would have been a disaster for this country. But we are happy this facility was not auctioned. Our sovereignty depends on the protection we get from our military and that is why we will always support you,” Mr Keynan told the gathered military personnel and their families.

A crew of some 50 officers and sailors travelled with the ship from Spain where they had undergone a rigorous nine-month training on how to handle the vessel and its sophisticated systems.

And after a 20-day return journey from Spain with only two brief stop-overs in Egypt and Djibouti to replenish stocks, the sailors were only too eager to rejoin their waiting family members for an emotional but deserved re-union.

“After all those days away and in the sea, I am looking forward to a hot meal of Ugali and sukuma wiki when I get home,” said Senior Private Hannah Wangari, a 25 year-old sailor.

Her colleague Sergeant Phoebe Makau, an electrician, termed the ship’s acquisition as a milestone in the history of the navy and said the entire team was thrilled to have been chosen to serve on the new vessel.

The country has several other warships some of which have and continue to be involved in the AMISOM operations off the coast of Somalia.