On 23 August 2024, the General Officer Commanding Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Major General John Nkoimo, presided over a Graduation Ceremony at the Disaster Response Battalion in Embakasi, Nairobi. This event also served as a Transfer of Equipment ceremony between the United States government and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
The Graduation Ceremony marked the culmination of a training program aimed at enhancing KDF’s capabilities in handling Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) explosives, and Casualty Decontamination. The training, conducted by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), was part of a security cooperation engagement program. Participants were drawn from the Disaster Response Battalion (DRB) of the Kenya Defence Forces.
Mr. Alexis Robinson, the DTRA Attaché for South, Central, and East Africa, highlighted that the training was designed to bolster collaboration between Kenya and the United States.
He emphasized the importance of building a strong, enduring partnership to ensure that Kenyan responders are adequately trained to address current and emerging CBRN threats.
“The program focuses on building expertise in the detection, containment, and mitigation of hazardous materials by equipping Kenyan responders with the best skills available,” reiterated Mr. Robinson.
In his address to the graduates, Major General Nkoimo expressed confidence in their newly acquired competencies as CBRN responders, upon whom the country can rely.
“Always endeavour to apply all the knowledge, skills, and drills you have acquired. Your commitment, teamwork, and cooperation will contribute to building professionalism,” he concluded.
To further enhance CBRN response capacity, the DRB received support in the form of rapid response vehicles equipped with Chemical and Radiological (CR) equipment and Mass Casualty Decontamination (MCD) equipment from the U.S. government.
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