During his visit, he paid a courtesy call to the Centre’s director, Major General Charles Mwazighe where they deliberated on issues of mutual interest and cooperation.

To well- acquaint the incoming Defence Attaché, Colonel Plans and Programmes – Col A. Koech, together with relevant heads of department presented an in-depth brief of the IPSTC’s core mandate.

In his remarks, Liuetenant Colonel Gense reaffirmed the Government of France’s commitment in fostering stability and resilience within the region through the Defence cooperation framework.

IPSTC wishes Lieutenant Colonel Gense a warm welcome to Kenya as he takes over his military duties.

During the visit, H.E. Hiroshi was given a comprehensive briefing on the United Nations Triangular Partnership Project (UNTPP), which is currently supporting the ongoing training of the Integrated Explosive Hazard Awareness Training (EHAT) and the Heavy Engineering Equipment (HEE) Basic Machine Operators Training Course which is sponsored by the Government of Japan.

The Ambassador was taken through an overview of the training curriculum and facilities, as well as the overall progress of the current cohort. His visit underscored Japan's continued commitment to enhancing regional peace support capacity through strategic collaboration.

H.E. Amb MATSUURA Hiroshi commended the team of trainers, the United Nations Triangular Partnership Project (UNTPP), and the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) for their dedication and professionalism in delivering high-quality training. He acknowledged their vital role in strengthening regional capacity for peace support operations and expressed appreciation for the collaborative efforts that have made the program a success.

Also in attendance during the visit were Commandant HPSS Brigadier C K Mundui, Defence Attaché Japan to Kenya Commander Keiko Kawashima, Deputy Commandant HPSS Colonel Kinyua, IPSTC Colonel Plans & Programs International Colonel Markus Schefer, Head of Training HPSS Lt Col Alex Neukomm and the UNTPP Training Officer Mary Thiong'o.

The discussions centered on Japan’s support for various strategic initiatives since 2011, with a particular focus on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), the Conflict Cycle, Disaster Risk Reduction, Maritime Security, Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), Community Resilience, and Humanitarian and Environmental Emergencies (HEE). Both parties reflected on the progress made and explored ways to deepen cooperation in these key areas, especially in light of evolving regional and global security dynamics.

This engagement reaffirmed the shared commitment to promoting peace, security, and inclusive development. It also opened up new avenues for future joint initiatives, capacity-building programs, and technical partnerships that align with our Centre’s mission of fostering stability and resilience in conflict-prone environments.