The Commander Kenya Navy, Major General Paul Otieno, on 3 February 2026 flagged off Exercise JITEGEMEE XXVII at the Kenya Navy Fleet, Mkunguni Jetty, Mombasa. The deployment, conducted aboard KNS JASIRI and KNS SHUPAVU, continues the Navy’s longstanding tradition of preparing Junior Officers Under Training through rigorous seagoing evolutions. These exercises reinforce the theoretical and simulation-based instruction provided at the Kenya Naval Training College.
Addressing officers and crew during the flag-off ceremony, Major General Otieno emphasized that the Kenya Navy remains tasked with safeguarding the nation’s territorial waters, defending maritime interests and contributing to regional maritime security and cooperation. He also noted the role of naval diplomacy, reminding personnel that their conduct and professionalism reflect directly on the Kenya Navy and the Kenya Defence Forces as a whole.
“Your conduct, discipline and professionalism will reflect directly on the Kenya Navy and the Kenya Defence Forces. You are ambassadors of our Service even while engaged in training,” he said.
Exercise JITEGEMEE XXVII plays a central role in developing competent divisional officers capable of executing complex maritime operations in support of national and regional security objectives. During the deployment, participating ships and crews will also join Exercise Cutlass Express 2026 in Seychelles, further strengthening Kenya’s operational integration within the regional maritime security framework.
In recognition of the evolving maritime threat environment, the Kenya Navy has conceptualized and will lead Operation Bahari Moja, a regional maritime security initiative under the Safe Seas Programme. The operation brings together the Seychelles Coast Guard, Seychelles Air Force, Mauritius National Coast Guard and Madagascar Coast Guard, coordinated through the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) with support from the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC).
Through coordinated air-surface tasking, shared track management and fused maritime domain awareness, the operation aims to deter narcotics trafficking, illegal unregulated and unreported fishing, piracy and irregular migration, while safeguarding the Blue Economy and enhancing regional cooperation. The operation’s theme, “One Sea,” reflects a unified commitment to protecting shared waters, securing the Blue Economy and denying transnational criminal networks freedom to exploit the maritime domain.
As Chairperson of the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment Working Group 3, Kenya continues to demonstrate leadership in operationalizing regional cooperation mechanisms and securing the maritime commons. This deployment and the upcoming operation reaffirm the Kenya Defence Forces’ commitment to regional stability, maritime security and the sustainable use of the Western Indian Ocean.
