The Africa Center for Strategic Studies hosted the East Africa Security Governance Forum: Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector on Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism from April 8–11, 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The event brought together fifty security officials as well as parliamentarians and staff from Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, as well as members of the East African Community (EAC) and the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization’s Counterterrorism Centre of Excellence (EAPCCO CTCoE). The objective was to strengthen the oversight that parliamentary defense committees provide to the security sector on issues related to counterterrorism in the region. The forum allowed for the alumni who attended to share practical insights and develop concrete recommendations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of legislative oversight of East African states’ strategies, budgets, and approaches to addressing this pressing problem set.
As part of the Forum’s activities, the Africa Center’s Kenya Alumni Chapter (ACSS-K) held a special reception on the evening of April 8 at the JW Marriott Hotel. The gathering provided a valuable opportunity for alumni to reconnect, share experiences, and engage with current forum participants and the Africa Center team.
During the reception, Brigadier General (Retired) Joseph B.M. Mweu, President of ACSS-K, delivered remarks reflecting on the chapter’s evolution and accomplishments since its founding in 2004. He underscored the importance of sustained alumni engagement and highlighted the chapter’s role in fostering dialogue and professional exchange on security governance in the region. Dr. Catherine Kelly, the Africa Center’s Director of Engagement and Faculty Lead of the Forum, also addressed attendees, emphasizing the importance of Kenyan alumni in facilitating the refinement and implementation of the conclusions, lessons learned, and recommendations that East African experts generated at the Forum. Both BG Mweu and Dr. Kelly recognized the support that ACSS-K alumni who are leaders at the National Assembly of Kenya and the National Defense University – Kenya (NDU-K) offered to the series of events in Nairobi.
The evening fostered lively conversations as alumni reflected on their shared commitment to strengthening democratic security governance in East Africa. They expressed appreciation to the Africa Center and ACSS-K for facilitating the gathering and voiced enthusiasm for future collaboration and engagement to shape the future of United States – Kenya relations.
The reception underscored the strong network of professionals that the Africa Center has cultivated across the continent and reaffirmed the vital role of alumni chapters in advancing the Center’s mission.
For pictures of the event, please visit this site: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCtgFW