NAIROBI, Kenya – The Massachusetts National Guard further strengthened its enduring relationship with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) at the recent 2025 African Chiefs of Defense Conference (ACHOD25).
The KDF and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) co-hosted the May 27-30 conference. Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, engaged in senior-level discussions and strategic dialogues with USAFRICOM and service component leadership at the conference.
At the conference, National Guard leaders met with African Chiefs of Defense from partner nations in the U.S. Department of Defense National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. They met to build a shared understanding of critical security challenges and discuss collective solutions.
Keefe joined Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau (NGB), and Maj. Gen. William Edwards, the National Guard Bureau’s director of Strategic Plans and Policy, and International Affairs, for a bilateral engagement with Gen. C M Kahariri, chief of Kenya’s Defence Forces, to discuss Kenya’s security cooperation relationship within the State Partnership Program (SPP).
“Engaging directly with African Chiefs of Defense, NGB and USAAFRICOM leadership allowed us to deepen mutual understanding, explore cooperative solutions to regional security challenges and reinforce our shared commitment to stability and professionalism across the continent,” Keefe said. “The Massachusetts National Guard is honored to support this vital partnership, which continues to promote security, resilience and lasting collaboration between our nations.”
The conference reaffirmed the strength of the enduring partnership between the Massachusetts National Guard and the Kenya Defence Forces. Established in 2015, the partnership has been instrumental in advancing joint training, enhancing disaster preparedness, supporting counterterrorism initiatives and promoting professional development within the military ranks.
Kenya President William Ruto, commander-in-chief of the KDF, delivered the keynote address at the opening of ACHOD25. In his remarks, he emphasized that the conference serves not only as a forum for military cooperation but also as a vital platform for strategic dialogue, policy alignment, and strengthening Africa’s collective voice in global security affairs.
“We have 38 different delegations attending this conference, and it speaks to the growing awareness that security goes beyond the borders of any country and that collaboration, partnership and building synergy is the way to greater security and stability within and outside our countries,” Ruto said. “The theme – strengthening African security, sustaining unity of effort – underscores the reality that our safety is interconnected. When one country or region falters, the ripple effect transcends borders, impacting livelihoods, economies and development prospects. True security in Africa must be continental in ambition and collaborative in execution.”
ACHOD25 provided an opportunity for senior military officials from across Africa to discuss topics such as countering transnational threats, strengthening U.S. and African partnerships and fostering the sharing of expertise and alliances. The annual conference advances regional stability and collective defense, supporting U.S. national security by promoting cost-effective, African-led solutions that minimize direct U.S. military involvement while enhancing global stability.