The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has warned its staff and port users against taking photos and videos within its premises after a video of US military aircraft landing at the Mombasa port terminal spread online.
A notice to all workers, signed by KPA Manager of Security Services Tony Kibwana, stated that the act went against international practice of securing the restricted facility. The memo, dated September 22, 2025, came a few hours after a video of a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey executing a precision vertical landing at Berth 21 in the port was released by onlookers.
“The port of Mombasa and all other port facilities under KPA, including inland container depots, are restricted areas and any photography and videography is prohibited unless under explicit permission and clearance from management. In compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, the authority has strategically placed a number of information and warning signs on restrictions of photography and video in these facilities,” said Mr Kibwana.
He warned all staff and port users who have been using their mobile devices and other electronic media to take photos and videos without clearance, and in some instances posting the same on social media, to desist, as it is an offence punishable by law.
The video raised questions among the public about the aircraft’s mission at the port. According to reliable sources, six such aircraft are expected to land before September 25, before being loaded onto a naval ship. However, their destination remains unclear.
The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is the first production aircraft in the world using tilt-rotor technology. The tilt-rotor allows the V-22 to take off and land vertically like a helicopter, and once airborne, transition into horizontal, high-speed, high-altitude flight by tilting the wingtip-mounted engine nacelles forward 90 degrees so that the rotors function as conventional propellers.
This makes the aircraft possess combined features of both a helicopter and an airplane. The V-22 is the first rotorcraft designed to meet the requirements of four agencies: the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Navy, and the Special Operations Command.
Kenya has played a key role in working with different governments, including the US, in peacekeeping missions worldwide. Its status as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) of the US also offers benefits such as defence equipment access and joint programmes, supporting regional security goals. This is a distinct relationship, separate from hosting a formal US military base.
In March this year, Mombasa hosted the USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3), a naval vessel that serves as a floating sea base, designed to support US operations far from shore. Unlike traditional warships, the vessel provides logistics, refuelling, and a launch platform for helicopters and small boats, extending the Navy’s reach. Official statements noted that the Puller docked in Mombasa for resupply and to strengthen US–Kenya naval ties.
Several other US military vessels have docked in Mombasa in past years, including the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB-4) in 2021. This mobile sea base is designed to support a wide range of missions, from logistics and refuelling to launching helicopters and small craft. Its role is to extend naval operations without relying on land bases.
When the ship docked in Mombasa in February 2021, it marked the first US Navy visit to Kenya in over a decade. The stop aimed to resupply the vessel and deepen cooperation with the Kenyan Navy, according to official statements provided by state agencies.
