HMS Dragon and RFA Lyme Bay visit highlights growing UK-Kenya security cooperation amid focus on maritime security and trade.
MOMBASA, AUGUST 2026 –The UK and Kenya have reaffirmed their strong defence partnership after two Royal Navy vessels, HMS Dragon and RFA Lyme Bay, docked in Mombasa this week for a routine port call.
The visit comes as both ships conclude training and prepare for possible involvement in a multinational maritime security mission in the Strait of Hormuz. In Mombasa, the ships are undergoing maintenance and resupply before continuing regional operations.
A reception hosted aboard HMS Dragon on Tuesday evening brought together senior government officials, Kenya Defence Forces officers, and business leaders to mark the enduring ties between the two countries. Speakers highlighted how UK-Kenya cooperation is helping to safeguard trade routes, boost regional stability, and support economic growth in East Africa.
Diana Dalton, Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya, said the partnership was delivering tangible benefits:
“Kenya and the UK have a great relationship spanning hundreds of years. We appreciate what the UK Government is doing to improve our capabilities, especially the Kenya Marine Commando Unit. The Kenyan Navy has been at the forefront of ensuring that we provide an environment that is safe for mariners to operate. For us it’s great to have two ships in the Port of Mombasa.”
Brigadier Sankale Kiswaa of the Kenya Navy echoed the sentiment, noting that joint training and capability-building were strengthening Kenya’s maritime security.
HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 air defence destroyers, specializes in air defence but can also support disaster relief and counter-narcotics operations. RFA Lyme Bay is a landing ship designed to deploy troops, vehicles and aid, and is frequently used for humanitarian missions and amphibious exercises.
The port call underscores the broader UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership 2025-2030, signed last year in London by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. The 5-year framework prioritizes security, green growth, trade, science and technology.
Under the Security Compact signed alongside the Partnership, the two countries pledged to jointly tackle terrorism, cyber threats, illicit finance and irregular migration, while deepening maritime security cooperation.
Economically, the Partnership targets £1 billion in UK export finance and defence jobs, and aims to double bilateral trade to £3.6 billion by 2030. Flagship projects include Nairobi Railway City, valued at up to £150 million and projected to create 10,000 jobs.
