Kenya and U.S. Supercharge Manda Bay: A $70 Million Expansion to Reshape East African Security

31 January 2026 - Kenya and the United States have officially broken ground on a massive KSh 9 billion expansion of Manda Bay military base in Lamu County, signaling a strategic shift in East African security.

" This is far more than a construction project; it is a geopolitical statement, a regional security pivot, and a development opportunity rolled into one," Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya remarked at the ceremony.

“This project is not just about concrete and steel; it is about ensuring that Kenya and the region are secure against all threats.”

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau added, “This expansion strengthens our partnership with Kenya and enhances our ability to respond rapidly to crises across East Africa.”

At the heart of the expansion is a 10,000-foot runway designed to handle heavy transport planes and modern fighter jets transforming Manda Bay from a modest coastal outpost into a regional power hub.

The upgraded facilities will allow for faster deployment, sustained operations, and full logistical reach across the Horn of Africa, positioning Kenya as a central player in regional defense and humanitarian missions. Once targeted by extremists, Manda Bay’s previous vulnerabilities underscored the urgent need for modernisation; the new runway and support infrastructure will ensure Kenya can act swiftly and decisively against threats.

The stakes could not be higher. Extremist groups in Somalia continue to pose a persistent threat to Kenya and the wider region, while piracy and maritime insecurity affect critical trade routes along the Indian Ocean.

The expanded base will enhance surveillance, improve rapid-response capability, and strengthen joint counterterrorism operations, ensuring Kenya is no longer caught flat-footed. As the Defence Cabinet Secretary Ms Tuya, emphasized, “We are demonstrating that Kenya will no longer be caught flat-footed in the face of evolving threats.”

Yet the significance of Manda Bay extends beyond defense. The expansion is also a diplomatic signal, demonstrating the concrete nature of the Kenya-U.S. partnership.

The base will serve as a hub for joint exercises, long-term cooperation, and operational coordination, cementing Kenya’s role as a trusted partner in a region increasingly marked by competing global interests.

At the same time, the project offers economic dividends for Lamu County, from construction jobs to service roles, while aligning with broader coastal infrastructure initiatives. In this way, security investment is directly tied to development, turning a military upgrade into a catalyst for regional growth.