Kenya Army - Order of Battle - Support Forces
66 Artillery Battalion dates back to the decision to form an Artillery unit mooted in 1964, but was not implemented until November 29, 1966, when the first Artillery Battery (Bty) was formed which comprised 120mm Tampella mortars. The main armament was acquired from Israel and the first firing was done on top of Menengai crater.
This first Artillery Battery was known as First Mortar Battery. Light Armored Squadron and First Parachute Company formed what was then known as Support Battalion. In 1975 more mortars were acquired which led to the formation of C troop. The first Commanding Officer of 66 Artillery Battalion was Lt Col D.R.C. Tonje (later CGS). In 1990, 1Bty was detached from 66 Artillery Battalion and became independent directly under the command of Headquarter Artillery Brigade.
75 Artillery Battalion denotes the year the name 75 denotes the year the first air defence guns were acquired. 2 Battery, then under 66 Artillery Battalion in Gilgil, was integrated into the Kenya Air Force Ground Air Defence Unit in September 1978. Earlier in 1976, the Government had acquired air defence guns from Israel. 75 Artillery Battalion was formed in 1982 after the GADU was disbanded following the abortive coup. Apart from the Tiger Cat Squadron and a few personnel, all the GADU elements and equipment were transferred into the Kenya Army. The unit is now a fully-fledged air defence battalion with fighting Batteries based III Embakasi.
77 Artillery Battalion, then only consisting of 5 Battery, moved from Gilgil to Nyali Barracks in Mombasa in 1979. The idea of forming a second field artillery unit after 66 was conceived in 1977, hence the name of the unit. The acquisition of personnel and equipment for the new unit was done between 1977 and 1979. In 1981 following the acquisition of new equipment, two new units, 6 and 7 Battery, were formed. 77 Artillery Battalion was based in Nyali Barracks from 1979 to 1989. The Battalion was relocated to its present base in Mariakani Barracks. 15 KR now occupies the Nyali Barracks.
Artillery Brigade
In July 2014 Colonel John Mwangi was promoted to Brigadier and appointed Commander of the Artillery Brigade. During the Kenya Defence Forces rifle championship in October 2014 Gunner Irungu and Gunner Adhambo of Artillery Brigade scooped the best Light Machine Gun pairs as Senior Sergeant Kipchumba took home the best G3 shot.
School of Artillery traces its origin to 1966 soon after the formation of the first Artillery battery, the 1st Mortar Battery. It was then known as the Gunnery Wing of the Mortar Battery. Members of the Royal Artillery, who were part of Battken, were instrumental in the formation of this wing. The school became an independent unit directly under the command of Headquarter Artillery Brigade in 1980 but remained colocated with 66 Artillery Battalion in Gilgil.
The school moved from Gilgil to Larisoro near Archers Post between March and December 1983. It later relocated to a ranch in Kula Mawe in 1984 and later during the same year the school moved to a site next to 78 Tank Battalion. The school finally moved to its current base at Kampi ya Chumvi along Isiolo— Archers Post road in September 1985.
10 Engineers Battalion The Corps of Engineers was formed on October 1, 1965 as an Engineer Company based at Gilgil. The Engineer Company was composed of a Field troop, Plant troop and a Headquarter troop with a total of 120 personnel. 1he same year at Gilgil base, the role of the sub – unit was changed to Engineer squadron.
In 1958 the Engineer squadron moved from Gilgil to Nanyuki, the current location of l0 Engineers. In 1971 the Engineer Squadron was expanded to an Engineer battalion comprising of a field squadron, a park squadron (the support squadron) and a headquarter squadron.
The Engineer squadron remained known by the name until July 1979 when on formation of another battalion, it was renamed 10 Engineer Battalion. The other Battalion formed was 12 Engineer Battalion. It was initially based at Archers Post and later relocated to Thika.
12 Engineers Battalion In early 1978, the Kenya Army Corps of Engineers had only one battalion, the Engineering Battalion, based in Nanyuki. During this time the battalion expanded in terms of personnel and equipment. There then arose a need to look for a vast and suitable training area elsewhere because the one available within camp was too small. A training area at Archers Post was identified and the first troop of combat engineers was dispatched to Larisoro area for training.
There was also the need to renovate the Kenya Air Force range at Archers Post. A combat engineer troop was sent to undertake the task and join the training troop. In 1978, ar1 officer was tasked to carry out a detailed report for a suitable permanent training camp in the general area of Archers Post. In his report he recommended a camp formerly occupied by Ministry of Works and at that time hosting the School of Combat Engineering (SOCE).
As the army establishments expanded there was also a need to expand the engineers in order to effectively support the increased infantry units i.e. Supporting Arms Formations. The idea of establishing another Engineers Battalion Was therefore hatched. The former Engineer Battalion in Nanyuki changed its name officially to 10 Engineers Battalion.
Engineers Brigade
The history of the Engineers Brigade can be traced to 1965 when personnel drawn from assault pioneers platoon of existing infantry units formed an engineer squadron based in Gilgil. The first Officer Commanding was Major Hynnes from the UK. Engineers Brigade caters for two units and one school. These are 10 Engineers, 12 Engineers, School of Combat Engineers and its administration unit.
Over the years, the Brigade has undergone many changes both in training and equipment holding aimed at improving its capability and operational efficiency. The greatest challenge has risen from the ever—increasing demand for its contribution towards national development in construction and Water drilling activities. The mission of the Engineers Brigade is to provide Engineer support to the Kenya Army in defence of the country against external aggression and aid to civil authority or humanitarian civic action.
Kenya Army Medical Services
The Defence Forces Medical Services are provided by the Kenya Army Medical Corps under the guidance and direction of the Chief of Medical Services. The Kenya Army Medical Corps (KAMC) has been in existence since the formation of Kings African Rifles. During the colonial period, the KAMC was called the Royal Army Medical Corps.
The medical services are provided at all levels of military organisations starting from units to formations and base hospital (Forces Memorial Hospital). The role of medical services is to provide support care and reduce non-effectiveness caused by health-related problems. The main emphasis is on preventive medicine augmented with curative and rehabilitative medical services.
Kenya Army Ordnance Corps
The primary mission of KAOC is to sustain the Kenya Army through acquisition, Warehousing and distribution of Ordnance stores so as to support operations both in peacetime and wartime and provide limited support to the two sister services as directed. The vision of KAOC is to maintain KAOC’s role as a leading inventory control organisation Within the Armed Forces through improved mission oriented training and effective leadership at all levels. KAOC has been able to sustain the Army successfully up to date.
Kenya Army Corps of Signals
In 1995, the Kenya Army Corps of Signals was established With the purpose of superintending over all Army communications through command, control and administration of signal resources. The Corps has been in charge of career progression of all signal personnel, repair and maintenance of ICT.
To undertake the stated roles effectively, the corps headquarters is organized into Operation, Training, Personnel and Administration branches. The units under command include Signal Battalion and School of Signals. Units under technical control include two Brigade signals squadrons, Armoured brigade Signal troops and Engineers brigade Signals troop. The Corps has strong representations at Department of Defence communications and Headquarter Kenya Army communications.
Kenya Army Corps of Transport
The mission of the Kenya Army Corps of Transport (KACT) is to provide transport for men and cargo during War and peacetime and also train Motor transport management personnel including operators. The Corps of Transport is responsible for transport support for all arms and services.
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