Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale arrived in India on the morning of Monday, August 28, as confirmed by the Asian nation's Ministry of Defence.
In a military briefing, India announced that the CS is presently in New Delhi for a three-day visit, aimed at enhancing Defence cooperation between the two nations.
Over the course of this 3-day visit, Duale will be hosted by his Indian counterpart, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh.
“The visiting dignitary is expected to visit Indian shipyards and Defence industries in Goa and Bengaluru during his stay,” the Indian Defence Ministry said in its statement.
This marks Duale’s inaugural trip to India and represents the most significant individual political visit from Kenya since the Kenya Kwanza government took office in September 2022.
“The visit is indicative of the importance India attaches to its relations with African nations and the growing cooperation between India and Kenya, in particular,” India further stated while describing the visit as historic.
“It is expected to open new avenues for further strengthening Defence cooperation between the two countries.”
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), which the CS will visit, is an Indian Government-owned shipbuilding entity situated along the West Coast of India in Vasco da Gama, Goa.
As per India's Ministry of Defence, GSL has undertaken the construction and commissioning of a diverse array of advanced vessels tailored for diverse applications across both the Defence and commercial domains.
The shipyard boasts specialised proficiency in the construction of contemporary patrol vessels featuring state-of-the-art Steel and Aluminium hull structures.
Within Bengaluru, India houses 58 Defense and Aerospace companies. During his visit, Duale is expected to explore some of these industries.
Some of the industries located in Bengaluru include; the Aeronautical Development Agency, Defence Research and Development Organisation, ISRO Satellite Centre, and the Indian Space Research Organisation.
By the time of publishing this piece, Kenya was yet to comment on Duale's visit to one of the world's most advanced militaries.
India and Kenya maintain warm relations, as evidenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bilateral discussions at State House Nairobi during his 2016 visit.
During this visit, Kenya and India solidified their ties by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation.
