Wetang’ula hosts Indian High Commissioner, seeks to deepen ties

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula on Monday hosted Ambassador Adarsh Swaika, the High Commissioner of India to Kenya, at his office in Parliament Buildings,

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The meeting was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and exploring avenues to enhance trade between the two countries.

The engagement, described by Wetang’ula as a platform for parliamentary diplomacy, highlighted the importance of fostering closer ties between Kenya and India beyond traditional diplomatic channels.

During the courtesy call, Wetang’ula noted that India is Kenya’s sixth-largest trading partner, emphasising the potential for growth in both imports and exports.

“Cognisant that India is Kenya's sixth largest trading partner, we reviewed ways in which, through Parliamentary diplomacy, we could deepen relations to enhance the balance of trade,” he said.

He pointed out that Kenya currently imports a variety of commodities from India, including pharmaceuticals, steel, motorbikes, and automobiles, while exports to India include tea and assorted vegetables.

The Speaker expressed his desire to explore strategies to improve the balance of trade, ensuring that both countries benefit more equitably from the partnership.

Wetang’ula also thanked the Asian nation for the continued support in facilitating medical care for Kenyans in India.

“During our engagement, I expressed my gratitude to the High Commissioner for the continued support and facilitation provided to Kenyans in accessing medical care in India,” he said.

The discussion also focused on the role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening relations between the two nations.

Wetang’ula underscored the importance of promoting exchange programmes for Members of Parliament, which would allow legislators to share experiences, best practices, and legislative approaches to common challenges.

According to the Speaker, such initiatives enhance mutual understanding, foster cooperation, and provide Kenyan lawmakers with valuable insights from India’s legislative processes.

The meeting comes at a time when both nations are exploring ways to expand trade and investment partnerships, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, health, and technology.

Earlier on December 9, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale met Indian High Commissioner for what the ministry described as a strategic bilateral engagement anchored on strengthening health-sector collaboration.

The WHO summit, themed Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being, will draw heavily on India’s long-standing leadership in traditional and complementary medicine.

Kenya intends to use the platform to showcase Africa’s diverse traditional knowledge while aligning its standards, research capacity and regulatory framework with global benchmarks.

Duale said Kenya sees clear opportunities in India’s extensive experience.

“India has built strong systems for research, regulation and safe integration of traditional medicine. Kenya is keen to learn from these successes and apply practices that enhance patient safety, evidence generation and service delivery,” he noted.

He added that the country is positioning itself to advance safe, effective and evidence-based traditional therapies as part of a broader Universal Health Coverage agenda.