The UK has donated two high-performance Zodiac Pro 850 patrol boats to the Kenya Navy, in the latest example of deepening defence cooperation between London and Nairobi aimed at enhancing maritime security in the western Indian Ocean.
The vessels were formally transferred on Sunday at Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa, in a ceremony attended by officials from the British High Commission and the Kenya Defence Forces.
The Zodiac Pro 850 is a military-grade rigid-hulled inflatable boat, roughly 28 feet long, featuring a deep-V fibreglass hull and durable inflatable tubes for superior stability and speed in rough conditions.
Powered typically by twin outboard engines, these vessels are prized by navies worldwide for rapid-response missions, including interdictions, boardings, and troop insertions.
According to the British High Commission, the new assets will enhance the Kenya Navy’s ability to conduct near-shore patrols, protect key installations, and respond swiftly to incidents around the Port of Mombasa, East Africa’s busiest harbour and a vital gateway for trade across the region.
In recent times, Kenya’s more than 600 km coastline has drawn increased international attention as trade volumes grow and offshore resources are explored, even as challenges like illegal fishing, human trafficking and narcotics smuggling persist in the region.
Just the other day, illegal immigrants were nabbed off the coast of Mombasa with 1,024 kilograms (over 1 tonne) of 98% pure methamphetamine worth over 8 billion shillings.
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