China Delivers Six Aircraft to Kenya

China Delivers Six Aircraft to Kenya

The Chinese government delivered six Y-12 17-seat aircraft to the Kenya air force at a hand-over ceremony at the Moi Air Base on Monday.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya An Yongyu and Kenya's Chief of General Staff Daudi Tonje signed the hand-over document on behalf of their respective governments.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador An said the handing over of the aircraft is a symbol of the growth and enhancement of China-Kenyan state to state and military to military relations.

He recalled that China and Kenya started their military exchanges with a Chinese military delegation visiting Kenya in December 1996, saying the reciprocal visits to China by senior Kenyan military officers had contributed much to the closer military ties between the two countries.

In his speech, Tonje praised the Chinese side for sponsoring a master degree for Kenyan officers and granting an assorted number of vehicles expected to arrived in August this year for the Kenya air force.

He said the first group of six Y-12 aircraft to the Kenya air force arrived in April 1997 and since then has logged over 5,000 hours without any teething problems that normally accompany the introduction of such a new system.

He hoped that China "will continue to assist us and that the friendship and cordial relationship existing between our two peoples and two countries will continue to grow from strength to strength."

Kenyan Air Force Commander Nick Leshan presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by Kenya's Deputy Chief of General Staff Daniel Opande, among several hundred senior officers and soldiers.