- President Uhuru Kenyatta and his counterpart Felix Tshisekedi of DR Congo signed a deal on promoting peace and security in the latter nation

- The two heads of the states agreed on developing ways of countering terrorism in their countries.
- This comes a few days after Uhuru had launched a new government small arms factory in Ruiru.
Kenya is set to deploy Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a mission to enhance peace and stability.
According to an agreement between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his DRC counterpart Felix Tshisekedi, the troops will be deployed to the eastern part of the Central African country. “Kenya will volunteer to be part of the Rapid Intervention Brigade to support the Congolese army in a bid to eradicate security in the eastern part of the country,” Uhuru and Tshisekedi announced during a joint press in Kinshasa.
The deployed troops will work under the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in DRC (Monusco) with an assignment to battle militias in the region that has faced insecurity that has seen millions of people displaced. The Centre on International Cooperation indicated that the insecure region has over 120 armed groups that have enhanced the instability of the country. Uhuru's and Tshisekedi's commitment to the pact is aimed at seeking a lasting solution to terrorism, maritime immigration, and customs matters. Their discussion mainly focused on counter-terrorism, small arms and light weapons, immigration, custom and border control, and police cooperation. “This will not only boost our balance of trade position, but it will also create employment for thousands of Kenyans,” he said. According to a reports, security consultant and former KDF officer Byron Adera said what DR Congo was facing could befall any country and thus it was good for Kenya to cooperate and support.

"Kenya has always lent a leaning shoulder to DRC, and the current president has good relations with our president, so such deals should be expected,” he told The Standard. However, some Kenyan officials claimed that Uhuru's visit to DRC was in line with granting various trading privileges to DR Congo to boost trade at the port of Mombasa.
In contrast, others believed it was aimed at seeking a market for locally made weapons. Uhuru had recently opened a new government small arms factory in Ruiru, Kiambu county. The president said Kenya sought to enhance her self-reliance in security through local equipment and technologies in line with the Big 4 Agenda and Vision 2030. As reported earlier by TUKO.co.ke, Uhuru had gone to DRC for a three-day state visit. The Kenyan delegation, which included Cabinet secretaries Raychelle Omamo and Eugene Wamalwa, arrived in the Central African country a few minutes past 3pm on Tuesday, April 20.