Kenya to Acquire $31M Surface-to-Air Missile Defence System from NATO-Aligned Israel

Kenya is set to acquire a $31m advanced Spyder Air Defence System from Israel.

According to the controversial Finance Act set to come into operation on September 1st, 2024, the acquisition is funded by a $8m loan from Tel Aviv, a financial arrangement with undisclosed terms, and $23 million from Kenyan taxpayers.

The move reflects an indication of Kenya’s increasing focus on what it considers to be urgent security threats in the Gulf of Aden from Houthi rebels and Somalia’s Al-Shabaab.

While the acquisition of the Spyder Air Defence System, which is manufactured by Israeli state-owned company, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd, signifies a deepening of relations between both countries, the potential for delays in weapons upgrades and maintenance remains a concern to analysts.

It will be recalled that the US – Israel’s most significant ally – once premised its proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Kenya on the country openly supporting Israel’s interests, which led to Kenya being placed in an awkward political position on the ongoing Gaza invasion.

Read more: Former S/Africa President Jacob Zuma Condemns ANC-DA Coalition Government, Calls for Fresh Election

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