Kenya has moved to expand its ammunition production capacity. The Kenya Defence Forces broke ground on a new production line at the Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation plant in Eldoret.
General Charles Kahariri, the Chief of the Defence Forces, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony. He did so shortly after chairing the 73rd board meeting of the Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. He was received on arrival by Major General George Okumu, the corporation’s managing director.
The new line forms part of a wider modernisation drive. It is meant to expand ammunition production capacity and reduce Kenya’s reliance on imported military supplies, the ministry explained in the statement.
Board members, the ministry noted, used the meeting to review progress on initiatives designed to grow ammunition production capacity. These are intended to strengthen manufacturing standards at the corporation and meet emerging operational demands from the security forces.
The modernisation drive, according to the Ministry of Defence, is being rolled out in three phases. The first phase is already under way. The entire programme is expected to conclude by the 2027/2028 financial year.
Once complete, the upgrades will raise ammunition production capacity by roughly 35 per cent, the Ministry of Defence confirmed. Officials say the jump will support steadier output of small arms ammunition and related auxiliary products for the armed forces.
Addressing corporation staff after the ceremony, General Kahariri commended the workforce for its production record, as quoted in the ministry’s statement. He stressed the importance of expanding local defence manufacturing to meet future security needs. He urged personnel to uphold discipline and professionalism as the corporation grows into a central pillar of Kenya’s defence industry.
The Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation was established in 1997. It remains the country’s only state-owned ammunition manufacturer, according to its official website. The corporation produces small arms ammunition, including 5.56mm, 7.62mm and 9mm rounds, manufactured to NATO specifications at its Eldoret facility.
Separate reporting by Kenyans.co.ke, citing officials present at the site, put current daily output at the plant between 20,000 and 60,000 rounds. That figure underlines why the boost to ammunition production capacity matters, since the new line has been built to expand it once fully operational and integrated with the existing facility.
Senior officers who attended the ceremony, the ministry’s statement listed, included Vice Chief of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General John Omenda and Commander of the Kenya Army Lieutenant General David Keter. Also present were Commander of the Kenya Navy Major General Paul Otieno and Director General of Defence National Security Industries Major General Faustino Lobaly.
The expansion reflects a broader push across Kenya’s military establishment toward self-reliance in domestic manufacturing, defence observers say. It aims to reduce dependence on external suppliers for equipment used by troops deployed in regional security operations, including missions in Somalia and along Kenya’s northern borders.
Kenya’s investment in ammunition production capacity mirrors a wider trend among African states. Many are building local defence manufacturing bases to cut foreign currency spending on imported arms and sustain operational readiness without relying on outside suppliers.
