Kenya Turns to Egypt for Defence Manufacturing Expertise

Kenya has taken steps to strengthen cooperation with Egypt in defence manufacturing following a high-level visit by senior Kenyan security officials to Cairo on 20 December.

The delegation was led by Major General Faustino Lobaly, Director General of the Directorate of National Security Industries (DNSI), and was received by Egypt’s Minister of Military Production, Engineer Mohamed Salah El-Din Mostafa. The visit focused on expanding bilateral collaboration in defence production under existing military cooperation arrangements between the two countries.

Discussions centred on Egypt’s defence manufacturing sector, which is among the most developed in Africa and the Arab region. Kenyan officials sought to understand how Egypt organises and manages its military production system, including policy frameworks, industrial coordination, and the integration of research, development, and manufacturing.

During the visit, the delegation toured key defence facilities, including the Arab International Optronics Company and the Engineering Industries Complex. These sites play a central role in producing advanced systems for Egypt’s armed forces and for export. The team also visited the Kader Factories and the Helwan Factories for Developed Industries, which manufacture a wide range of military equipment and advanced technologies.

At the Ministry of Military Production, Egyptian officials provided briefings on the country’s defence industrial strategy and its approach to aligning industrial capacity with national security requirements. The visit was conducted within the framework of the Kenya–Egypt Joint Military Cooperation Agreement.