The Shifting Landscape of African Defence Procurement: Kenya and Egypt’s Strategic Partnership

The landscape of African defence procurement is undergoing a significant transformation, moving towards localized manufacturing and enhanced regional interdependence. This shift was prominently highlighted on December 20, 2025, when a high-level delegation from Kenya’s Directorate of National Security Industries (DNSI), led by Director General Major General Faustino Lobaly, visited Cairo’s military industrial base. This visit followed the signing of a Joint Military Cooperation Agreement earlier in the year, during President William Ruto’s state visit to Egypt in January 2025. It marks Kenya’s desire to transition from simple procurement to a sustainable ecosystem involving technology transfer and co-production.

The Egyptian Model of Military Production

Central to Kenya’s interests during the visit was the Ministry of Military Production (MoMP). This authority is crucial for Egypt’s defence industrial policy, overseeing a network of seventeen specialized companies transitioning from basic assembly to complex system design. Kenyan officials are eager to study this model, aiming to refine their operational frameworks for domestic firearms and ammunition production. This strategic pivot is primarily aimed at reducing reliance on costly imports while building a resilient supply chain that supports the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in extensive regional security missions.

Technology Transfer: A Key Focus

One of the highlight stops on the tour was the Arab International Optronics (AIO) Company, a joint venture partially owned by the Egyptian Ministry of Defence and the French Thales Group. AIO serves as a benchmark in African electronics manufacturing, producing advanced fire control systems, laser rangefinders, and thermal imaging devices crucial for modern combat and surveillance operations. Demonstrating its capabilities, AIO showcased systems like the Eagle 1 Remote Control Weapon Station (RCWS), which allows gunners to engage targets from within the safety of an armoured vehicle. Integrating such technology into Kenyan border patrol vehicles could dramatically enhance operational effectiveness in counter-insurgency missions.

Furthermore, AIO manufactures the Egyptian Integrated Soldier System, featuring night vision goggles and ruggedized communication units. Kenya’s keen interest in these technologies signifies its commitment to advancing the situational awareness of individual soldiers, a vital requirement for confronting asymmetric threats in challenging terrains.

Heavy Manufacturing and Armoured Vehicles

The delegation’s tour continued at the Engineering Industries Complex and the Kader Factory for Developed Industries—cornerstones of Egypt’s vast heavy manufacturing sector. Renowned for producing the Fahd armoured personnel carrier and the more recent Temsah family of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, these facilities exemplify advanced military manufacturing. The Kader Factory’s V-shaped hull design is particularly noteworthy for its ability to deflect IED blasts, a crucial feature that has saved lives during extensive operations, such as those in Sinai.

Kenya can take valuable lessons from Kader’s success in heavy vehicle production. Just recently, Egypt secured a significant export deal for Kader-1 and Kader-2 armoured vehicles with Equatorial Guinea, showcasing its manufacturing capabilities in the international arena. For Kenya, co-producing similar platforms could position its local defence sector as a regional hub, fulfilling internal demands while allowing for exports to other African Union member states.

Advanced Artillery and Engineering Insights

The Engineering Industries Complex also exhibited its prowess in heavy artillery and advanced systems. Among its innovations are the Sinai 200, an indigenous tracked infantry fighting vehicle designed for high mobility, and the Rada’ 300 multiple rocket launcher system, demonstrating Egypt’s expertise in merging advanced electronics with heavy artillery platforms. By observing production lines, Kenyan officials gathered insights into maintaining and supplying sophisticated military machinery, equipping them with knowledge critical for developing their defence infrastructure.

At the Helwan Factories for Developed Industries (HFDI), the focus shifted to aerospace and precision engineering. The facility’s track record in helicopter maintenance, particularly for platforms like the Gazelle and Mi-8, speaks volumes about its technical capabilities. Kenya’s ambition to establish a local maintenance framework for its aviation wing is crucial, as it allows for significant cost savings over relying on foreign manufacturers for complex repairs.

The Economic and Strategic Alignment

The economic implications of Kenya’s engagement with Egypt extend beyond mere technical exchange; they signify a broader strategic alignment. Egypt faces the challenge of navigating a surplus in production capacity while seeking to expand its defence exports continent-wide. Meanwhile, Kenya possesses the political will and regional influence to guide defence industrialization across East Africa. Under Major General Lobaly’s leadership at DNSI, the aim is to ensure that Kenya’s defence expenditures contribute meaningfully to its national industrial growth.

Navigating the Challenges of Local Production

The transition to local manufacturing is complex, involving several trade-offs. Initially, producing license-built equipment may incur higher costs compared to direct imports due to the investment required to establish production facilities. However, long-term benefits such as specialized skills development and operational independence are compelling. By producing its own small arms and ammunition, Kenya minimizes vulnerabilities related to sudden export bans and international supply chain disruptions. The collaborative efforts in Cairo illustrated Egypt’s willingness to share not only finished products but also operational frameworks and research and development processes integral to their production.

Future Collaborations and Initiatives

Looking ahead, the groundwork laid during the Cairo engagement could foster numerous joint initiatives, including specialized training programs for Kenyan engineers in Egyptian factories. These “skills-transfer” workshops could focus on maintaining optoelectronic systems, as well as the assembly of armoured hulls. Additionally, joint R&D projects could emerge, specifically targeting equipment designed for East Africa’s unique climate and terrain challenges.

A Template for Regional Defence Policy

The insights gained during the visit to the Ministry of Military Production provide a model for how Kenya can streamline its various defence-related entities under a unified industrial policy framework. Egypt is actively modernizing its capabilities by co-producing advanced military equipment, with examples such as the K9A1 EGY self-propelled howitzer and the M1A1 Abrams tank showcasing how to leverage foreign technology for domestic enhancement. Kenya’s DNSI appears poised to embark on a similar, albeit scaled, trajectory of development.

By seeking collaboration with Egypt, Kenya is fostering a South-South cooperative model that emphasizes African-led solutions to security challenges. The fruits of this partnership will be seen in the coming years as the first locally manufactured firearms or armoured components emerge from Kenya’s nascent defence industry, marking a pivotal moment in the continent’s military manufacturing landscape.