Kenya's president has launched the country’s first coastguard to protect and monitor its territorial waters.

It will guard against illegal fishing, which President Uhuru Kenyatta said costs Kenya about $100m (£78m) a year. It is also intended to secure territorial waters against smuggling and drug trafficking.

Until now Kenya’s maritime security depended solely on the Navy, who authorities say will now be free to focus more on security and military affairs.

Launching the coastguard unit near the shore of the city of Mombasa, President Kenyatta unveiled the vessel - called the MV Doria - that has been commissioned for surveillance purposes.

At the event, Mr Kenyatta said foreign vessels trawling Kenyan waters was a major concern.

Kenyan fishermen on Lake Victoria have long complained of harassment from Ugandan forces on contested waters, and they will also be hoping the coastguard will provide them with the protection they have long hoped for.