The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has begun construction of a new ammunition production line at the Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation (KOFC) in Eldoret.

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This initiative was led by the Chief of the Defense Forces, General Charles Kahariri, on August 6, who officiated at the groundbreaking of the project in Lanet.

The new facility will work alongside the existing production plant in Lanet and the small arms facility in Ruiru, Kiambu, which is also undergoing extensive refurbishment to boost overall output.

"The Kenya Defence Forces took another significant step toward this goal when the Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), General Charles Kahariri, presided over the 73rd Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation Board of Directors Meeting before officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for a new ammunition production line at KOFC in Eldoret," KDF stated.

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Once operational, the upgraded systems are expected to raise ammunition production capacity by roughly 35 per cent nationwide.

The entire modernization program is being rolled out in three phases, with the first already underway, according to General Kahariri. KDF expects the project to be fully completed by the 2027/2028 financial year, according to KOFC's development timeline.

Before the ceremony, General Kahariri chaired the 73rd KOFC Board of Directors Meeting, during which members reviewed the Corporation's recent progress on the plan.

KOFC in Eldoret currently produces between 20,000 and 60,000 small arms bullets daily. Industrial modernization efforts are targeted for completion by 2027/2028. The facility serves as Kenya's primary state-owned defense factory for small-arms ammunition production. It plays a central role in supplying the KDF and police with domestically manufactured munitions.

The plant manufactures standard calibers, including 9mm, 7.62x51mm, and 5.56x45mm rounds. Rifle production is handled separately by the Ruiru Small Arms Factory, which operates at a single-shift capacity of 12,000 assault rifles annually.

Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the UN COMTRADE database confirm that Kenya relies on a diversified global arms supply chain. Despite domestic capacity, the country continues importing military ammunition and weaponry from Israel, Italy, the U.S., China, and the United Kingdom.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke