by Senior Airman Luis Gomez
406th Air Expeditionary Wing September 18, 2026
Frank Garcia, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, right, shakes hands with Brigadier Lazarus P. Wafula, Kenya Navy Base – Manda Bay, Base Commander, left, during an immersion tour at Manda Bay, Kenya, September 9, 2026. The visit allowed Department of State leadership to see firsthand the progress on projects such as the 10,000-foot runway that is projected to enhance U.S. and Kenyan operational capabilities by allowing a broader range of aircraft to operate from Manda Bay, increasing the collective capacity for rapid response, logistical support, medical evacuation, and humanitarian assistance missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Luis Gomez)
Kenya Navy Base and the 475th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron welcomed Frank Garcia, Assistant Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State Bureau of African Affairs, and Susan Burns, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy Nairobi, in Manda Bay, Kenya, Sept. 7, to see firsthand the mission of U.S. Forces and the Kenya Defence Forces.
The visit showcased not just the ironclad U.S. – Kenyan partnership, but also the ongoing 10,000-foot runway expansion project at Manda Bay, which is being financed by the United States. The upgrade will enable enhanced military and counter-terror operations, as well as boost regional security and prosperity. The visit allowed U.S. and Kenyan troops to engage with the Assistant Secretary and Chargé d’Affaires and ask questions.
Frank Garcia, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, left, and Brigadier Lazarus P. Wafula, Kenya Navy Base – Manda Bay, Base Commander, right, walk together at the start of an immersion tour at Manda Bay, Kenya, September 9, 2026. Garcia visited the installation to engage with both Kenyan Defence Forces and U.S. Forces to learn more about their mission and the partnership between the Department of War and Department of State to benefit U.S. – Kenyan security cooperation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Luis Gomez)
Susan Burns, Chargé d’Affaires U.S. Embassy Nairobi, center left, Frank Garcia, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, center, and Brigadier Lazarus P. Wafula, Kenya Navy Base – Manda Bay, Base Commander, center right, pose for a group photo with the Kenyan Defence Force and U.S. Forces during an immersion visit to at Manda Bay, Kenya, September 9, 2026. The relationship between the 475th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron and the Kenyan Defence Forces helps drive security initiatives, economic ties, and interoperability to foster peace across the Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Luis Gomez)
Frank Garcia, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, center, meets with members of the Kenyan Defence Forces during an immersion at Manda Bay, Kenya, September 9, 2026. Garcia visited the installation to engage with both Kenyan Defence Forces and U.S. Forces to learn more about their mission and the partnership between the Department of War and Department of State to benefit the U.S. – Kenyan security cooperation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Luis Gomez)
Frank Garcia, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, right, meets with U.S. military members assigned to the 475th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron during an immersion at Manda Bay, Kenya, September 9, 2026. Manda Bay provides both the U.S. and Kenya a strategic location to conduct peacekeeping operations and enhance the capacity of regional partner nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Luis Gomez)
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