Kenya has consistently participated in the United Nations Peace-Keeping operations since 1989 when she sent military observers and an infantry battalion to Namibia. Currently, Kenya ranks number 6 out of the 90 countries who contribute military and civilian police to the UN operations.

Since 1989, Kenya has contributed military observers, staff officers, civilian police monitors and infantry troops. The level of participation has also included force commanders, chief military observers, and chiefs of staff to the following UN Missions:

UNOMIL (Liberia) - Force Commander and Chief Military Observer
UNUMOZ (Mozambique) - Chief Military Observer
UNTAG (Namibia) - Deputy Force Commander
UNPROFOR (Federal Republic of Yoguslavia) - Chief Military Observer
UNMOP (Croatia) - Chief Military Observer

To-date, Kenyan United Nations Peace-Keepers have served in 16 different countries in Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and Asia. The period of deployment of the personnel has varied from Mission to Mission in accordance with the complexities of each conflict situation. This has so far ranged from one to eight years.

Currently, Kenyan peace-keeping contingents are in deployment in nine (9) different countries. Kenya is the sixth largest troop contributing nation to the UN Peace-Keeping Operations world-wide. She is third in Africa, after Nigeria and Ghana. Kenya has currently contributed 1,874 personnel, including 54 UN Military Observers, 70 Civilian Police and 1,750 troops. Kenya has an elaborate training programme for peace-keeping operations staff. The course curriculum includes basic military skills, computer literacy, human rights, international humanitarian law, and international law of armed conflict. Emphasis is also placed on personnel having a thorough knowledge of the environment and background to the conflict to which they are to be deployed. Peace-Keeping staff are therefore, given mission-specific training. This comprehensive curriculum has enabled the country to produce highly trained peace-keeping staff.

Kenya has also hosted several United Nations Peace-Keeping Seminars. In July 2002, the First UN Standardized Generic Training Module Seminar was held at the Peace Training Support Centre based at the Karen Defence Training College. 36 participants from 22 countries attended the seminar. In his statement during the Seminar, United Nations Military Adviser, Major General Tim Ford, commended Kenya for its commitment in contributing to peace-keeping efforts world-wide. Kenya has been choses to host the African Regional Headquarters. The training was sponsored by the United Nations Department for Peace-Keeping Operations.

BRIEFS

Participation in Current Peace-Keeping Operations