Kenya has climbed in Africa and World military statistics, ranking 11th in Africa, and 83rd in the whole world. 10 African countries were seen to have stronger military capabilities than Kenya in the recent global survey.
According to an annual assessment by Global Firepower, Kenya ranks 11th in Africa in terms of military strength, with Egypt leading the line in the continent.
Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa and Ethiopia round off the top four strongest military bases in Africa, with Angola, Morocco, DR Congo, Sudan and Libya also featuring in the top 10.
Despite South Africa making the top 10 in Africa, its recent decline in air and naval power saw the nation drop in the continental ranking. On a global scale, Kenya has made considerable strides, sitting in position 83 in the tier of strongest militaries in the world.
Egypt's top ranking comes as no surprise, as the nation, which is the most powerful among all Arab nations, has heavily invested in military spending in a bid to curb terrorism and regional instability.
The annual assessment of global military strengths takes into consideration factors in elements like financial capacity, logistical resources, and strategic positioning in their rankings.
However, the strength of a nation's military capacity is primarily determined by the manpower in its armed forces. In Egypt, for example, there are over 400,000 active personnel, who complement the modern fighter jets (including F-16s) as well as advanced naval and missile systems.
On the other end of the spectrum, nations like Benin, the Central African Republic, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gabon, Senegal, and Burkina Faso were identified as countries with the weakest militaries in Africa.
As African nations battle to enhance their military strength, there is a chance Kenya could creep into the top 10 in the rankings after President William Ruto's recent vow to enhance the capabilities of the Kenya Navy.
Part of the government's strategy involves investing in advanced technologies and modernising the navy’s fleet while also bolstering the skills and operational capacity of navy personnel.
"Our singular focus will be on maintaining a high state of readiness to ensure that we respond swiftly and effectively to an increasingly dynamic security environment," the President said during the Kenya Navy’s 60th anniversary at the Kenya Navy Base, Mtongwe, in Mombasa. By
