Chief of Defense Forces General Samson Mwathethe on Thursday unveiled modern generation attack helicopters.

Is there a story unfolding in your community? Let Hivisasa know

Kenya has been modernising her 56-year-old military, which is one of the strongest within Africa continent.

Speaking at Embakasi where the helicopters were unveiled for Kenya Air Force, Mwathethe said the helicopters are fixed with contemporary armament systems.

"Chief of the Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe presides over the commissioning of modern generation attack helicopters in Embakasi, Nairobi," KDF tweeted.

"The purchase of the helicopters fixed with contemporary airborne and armament systems is part of the KDF modernisation programme," it further said.

The Francis Ogolla-led KDF usually helps ground troops from Kenya Army during combat using such helicopters.

In 2012, Kenya Air Force played a key role in liberating Kismayo, a town which had been used by Al-Shabaab for commercial purposes.

The modernization of the KDF equipment comes amid reports that the troops manning Manda Airfield in Lamu hid in grass during Al-Shabaab attack.

However, the KDF team on Wednesday denied the reports by the New York Times, asking the country to wait for conclusive reports.

General Mwathethe is set to retire in May with Army Commander Lt. General Walter Raria expected to take over DoD.