The National Defence University-Kenya (NDU-K) hosted a delegation from the Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) in an engagement focused on translating the institutions’ existing partnership into structured, practical programmes that advance national security and development.

The engagement brought together the KESRA delegation, led by its Commissioner, Dr Mugambi Mwirigi, and NDU-K senior officers to identify priority areas for collaboration in academic programming, professional training, research, consultancy, knowledge exchange and capacity building.

The engagement underscores NDU-K’s commitment to strategic partnerships that harness institutional expertise, generate knowledge and strengthen professional capacity, in line with its mandate of developing strategic leaders through education, research and innovation in support of national security and development.

Speaking during the engagement, NDU-K Vice-Chancellor, Lieutenant General David Tarus, welcomed the Commissioner and his delegation, underscoring the strategic value of partnerships that bring together complementary institutional expertise in addressing national priorities. He noted that national security and national development are closely interconnected, making institutional capacity, professional expertise and strategic leadership critical to navigating the country’s increasingly complex security environment.

Lieutenant General Tarus observed that the Memorandum of Understanding between NDU-K and KESRA provides a platform for collaboration in academic programmes, professional training, research, consultancy, publications, knowledge exchange, capacity building and resource mobilisation. He emphasised the importance of converting the partnership framework into structured and sustainable initiatives that generate knowledge, strengthen professional capabilities and contribute to practical solutions to national challenges.

He noted that NDU-K’s mandate as a centre of strategic thought, leadership and knowledge places the University in a strong position to convene expertise across disciplines and institutions. In this regard, the University’s national security focus complements KESRA’s expertise in revenue administration, creating opportunities to address emerging issues at the intersection of security, governance, revenue protection and national development.

Highlighting progress under the partnership, Lieutenant General Tarus pointed to the proposed Master of Science in Tax Forensics and National Security, which has been submitted to the Commission for University Education and is awaiting site inspection and accreditation. He also cited the earlier collaboration on Ethics and Leadership for National Security as an example of translating the partnership into professional capacity development.

He further noted that NDU-K has developed a customised Maritime Security, Port Operations and Border Management Course for Kenya Revenue Authority officers, explaining that revenue administration increasingly intersects with maritime security, port operations, border management, intelligence and inter-agency cooperation. The programme reflects the University’s approach to developing multidisciplinary solutions to emerging security challenges by connecting professional practice, strategic knowledge and national security priorities, while equipping practitioners with knowledge and capabilities relevant to the country’s evolving security and development environment.

The engagement reaffirmed NDU-K’s commitment to strategic partnerships that extend beyond institutional collaboration to knowledge generation, leadership development, professional capacity building and practical interventions. It also underscored the University’s continued role as a strategic partner to Government institutions in harnessing expertise and innovation to support national security and development.