The delegation, led by India’s Secretary of Defence Production Sanjeev Kumar, was in Kenya from January 19 to 21 to represent India’s defence manufacturing and export sector at the third India-Kenya Defence Exhibition and Seminar.
The event was jointly organised by the High Commission of India and the Kenya Defence Forces, with support from the Department of Defence Production under India’s Ministry of Defence.
Previous editions of the exhibition were held in 2022 and 2024.
The seminar, which was attended by Defence CS Soipan Tuya, brought together 21 Indian defence companies from the public and private sectors.
The firms showcased defence platforms, systems and advanced manufacturing capabilities, highlighting India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and its export-ready defence solutions.
According to a statement from the Indian High Commission, the defence production secretary held extensive engagements on the sidelines of the event with senior Kenyan defence officials, including Defence PS Patrick Mariru and Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen John Omenda, alongside other senior officers.
“Discussions focused on strengthening India-Kenya defence cooperation, with emphasis on defence industrial collaboration, capacity building, training, information sharing and long-term cooperation in defence exports and maintenance support,” the statement said.
The delegation also visited Kenya Shipyard Limited in Mtongwe, where discussions centred on cooperation under an August 2023 memorandum of understanding between Goa Shipyard Limited and Kenya Shipyard Limited on shipbuilding, repair and sustainment.
The High Commission said the two countries share long-standing friendly relations, with defence cooperation forming a key pillar of the bilateral partnership.
“The visit of the Secretary (Defence Production) further reinforced the momentum in India-Kenya defence engagement and advanced prospects for deeper defence industrial collaboration, in line with India’s expanding defence partnerships with African nations,” it said.
Separately, the High Commission of India, in partnership with the Global Centre for Policy and Strategy, on Thursday organised a symposium on “Reshaping India-Kenya Cooperation in the 21st Century”.
The one-day forum brought together participants from government, academia, think tanks, industry and the media to discuss the future direction of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei acknowledged the depth of India-Kenya relations and underscored the need to adapt the partnership to a changing global and regional environment.
Sing’oei highlighted opportunities for closer cooperation in trade, technology, security and people-to-people links, noting India’s growing role in Eastern Africa and Kenya’s position as a gateway to the continent.
One thematic session focused on strategic collaboration between India and Kenya, examining ways to deepen cooperation in security, development and emerging areas.
Speakers also discussed strengthening defence and maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean and reimagining India-Kenya relations over the next decade.
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