Kenya is among 37 African countries scheduled to attend the India-Africa Defence Dialogue aimed at deepening military associations between the two continents.
The event, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 18, will happen on the sidelines of the 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
India is looking to become the preferred destination for Defence engagement for African countries with equipment procurement being part of its top priorities.
The 37 countries have been classified into three categories of attendance where 13 will be represented by Ministers and seven will have deputy ministers attend.
Kenya, on the other hand, falls in the general category where it will be represented by top officials.
"(The meeting) will explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagement, including in areas like capacity building, training, cyber security, maritime security and counter-terrorism," read the statement from Indian Defence ministry as per WION.
Other countries represented by officials are Egypt, Eswatini, Morocco, Comoros, Congo, Niger, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Mali, Guinea, Seychelles, Somalia, Uganda and Zambia.
Angola, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Central African Republic, Mauritania, Madagascar, Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Cabo Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe as well as South Africa will be represented by their ministers.
Until April 2021, Kenya heavily depended on imported military gear and the second most amount in its military sector - a total of Ksh3.2 billion - after Ethiopia which spent Ksh7.1 billion..
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, however, launched a new gun manufacturing factory in Ruiru on April 8 aimed at enhancing the country's self reliance through local production of security equipment.
The company manufactures small arms - an exercise slated to last for five years - before scaling up to light arms.
The government spent Ksh4 billion on the facility which produces 1,000 guns a month translating to 12,000 a year.
