Nairobi: Kenya and India have established a partnership aimed at enhancing defence industrial collaboration, capacity building, training, and sustainable partnerships. A four-member delegation led by Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production) from India’s Ministry of Defence, visited Kenya from January 19 to 21, 2026, to advance bilateral defence industrial cooperation.
According to Kenya News Agency, Shri Sanjeev Kumar represented India’s defence manufacturing and export ecosystem at the 3rd India-Kenya Defence Exhibition and Seminar, held on January 19, 2026, in Nairobi. The event, jointly organised by the High Commission of India in Kenya and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), was supported by India’s Department of Defence Production. The previous editions of this event took place in 2022 and 2024.
The Exhibition and Seminar were inaugurated by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Soipan Tuya, along with Shri Sanjeev Kumar and the High Commissioner of India to Kenya. Twenty-one Indian defence companies, from both the public and private sectors, participated, showcasing various defence platforms, systems, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
On the sidelines of the event, Secretary (Defence Production) engaged extensively with senior Kenyan defence leaders, including Dr. Patrick Mariru, Principal Secretary (Defence), and Lt Gen. John Omenda, Vice Chief of Defence Forces. Discussions focused on strengthening India-Kenya defence cooperation, with an emphasis on defence industrial collaboration, capacity building, training, sustainable partnerships, information sharing, and long-term cooperation in defence exports and maintenance support.
Secretary (Defence Production) also visited the Joint India-Africa Commemorative Pillar at Mile 27, a memorial dedicated to the unknown Indian and Kenyan soldiers who participated in the First World War. This memorial, unveiled on June 23, 2025, stands as a symbol of shared sacrifice and enduring partnership between the two nations.
The delegation further visited Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL) in Mtongwe, where discussions highlighted the potential of cooperation under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2023 between Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and KSL, particularly in shipbuilding, repair, and sustainability.
India and Kenya share long-standing friendly relations, with defence cooperation forming a key pillar of their bilateral partnership. The visit of India’s Secretary (Defence Production) reinforced existing ties and advanced prospects for deeper defence industrial collaboration, aligning with India’s expanding defence partnership with African nations.
