EAC DEFENCE EXPERTS WORKING GROUP CONVENE IN NAIROBI

Defence officials and experts from the seven member states of the East African Community (EAC) gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, from 15th to 16th September 2025 for the EAC Defence Experts Working Group (DEWG) meeting. The two-day convention focused on enhancing collective defence mechanisms and fostering interoperability among partner states, key pillars of the region’s security framework.

Brigadier Stephen Huria, the Chief of Operations at Defence Headquarters and Chair of the meeting, expressed gratitude to all participants and emphasized the strategic importance of the DEWG.

“This meeting provides another opportunity for us to reflect on our collective strides and progress in the field of defence,” he noted, urging delegates to engage in open, professional deliberations.

Representing the EAC Secretary General, Honourable Veronica M. Nduva, Colonel Joseph Mithamo Kimani, Kenya’s Defence Liaison Officer, welcomed delegates and commended their commitment to regional cooperation. His remarks set a collaborative tone for the discussions ahead.

The DEWG plays a critical role in shaping the EAC’s defence agenda, serving as a technical and strategic body that lays the groundwork for decisions made by the EAC Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence. Its mandate includes aligning national defence policies and procedures to ensure seamless interoperability during joint operations, exercises, and peacekeeping missions.

During the Nairobi meeting, delegates reviewed the outcomes of previous joint exercises, assessed progress on implementing past sectoral council decisions, and deliberated on the draft and signing of the Defence Sector calendar for the first half of 2026. The calendar outlines upcoming joint activities aimed at reinforcing operational readiness across the region.

This gathering reaffirmed the EAC’s commitment to the principle of collective security, as enshrined in Article 10 of the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence. The stability of each member state is intrinsically linked to the security of the entire region—a vision that continues to guide the EAC’s defence integration efforts.