MANDA BAY, Lamu—Jan 30, 2026—Kenya and the United States have begun construction of a $71.3 million expansion of the military airfield at Kenya Navy Base Manda Bay in Lamu County, significantly upgrading a key facility used in counterterrorism and regional security operations.
The project will deliver a new 10,000-foot runway and modern airfield infrastructure, nearly tripling the length of the existing runway, which officials say is outdated and unable to support larger military and humanitarian aircraft.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on January 29, attended by senior Kenyan and U.S. officials, including U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, and senior commanders from both militaries.
The U.S. Department of State awarded the construction contract in July 2024, with completion expected by mid-2027.
Officials said the expanded airfield will enhance rapid response capabilities, logistics, and joint operations against threats such as terrorism, piracy, and cross-border instability in East Africa and the western Indian Ocean.
Manda Bay has long served as a strategic hub for Kenya-U.S. military cooperation, particularly in operations targeting Al Shabaab militants operating in Somalia and along Kenya’s northern and coastal regions.
The base gained heightened attention following a deadly Al Shabaab attack in 2020 that targeted U.S. and Kenyan personnel.
Kenyan officials described the project as central to strengthening national and regional security, arguing that improved security infrastructure underpins economic stability in vulnerable border regions.
The expansion comes amid deepening defense ties between Nairobi and Washington, following Kenya’s designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally by the United States in 2024. While U.S. officials say the partnership has evolved over decades, the designation formalised Kenya’s role as a key security partner in the region.
U.S. Africa Command said the upgraded runway would improve coordination between the two militaries and expand operational reach across East Africa.
Landau’s visit to Kenya included a wreath-laying ceremony in Nairobi to commemorate victims of the 1998 Al Qaeda bombing of the U.S. Embassy, before he travelled to Lamu for the groundbreaking — a sequence officials said underscored the long-running security relationship between the two countries.
The expanded facility is expected to support both military and humanitarian missions, including disaster response and emergency evacuations, in addition to counterterrorism operations.
