From 13 to 23 June, the United Nations Office to the African Union participated in the pre-deployment verification of the Kenyan Defence Forces contingent at the Isiolo Training Centre, Kenya, in preparation for deployment to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
Led by the African Union Peace Support Operations Division, the assessment verified the contingent’s operational readiness through inspections of operational, logistical, medical and administrative capabilities. The contingent completed a 12-week pre-deployment training programme covering operational skills, medical preparedness, counter-IED awareness, conduct and discipline, and compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law.
The verification also included inspections of individual equipment and medical documentation, alongside scenario-based exercises covering base protection, VIP escort, patrols, cordon and search operations, and interviews to assess understanding of human rights standards.
The contingent comprises 1,410 personnel, including 250 women, with approximately 70 per cent having previous deployment experience in Somalia. Overall, the assessment confirmed the contingent’s readiness for deployment while reinforcing AU–UN cooperation in strengthening operational standards for African peace support operations.
