High Commission of India Nairobi
***
Bilateral Brief
India and Kenya are maritime neighbours. The contemporary ties between India and Kenya are marked
by high-level exchanges, robust trade and investment, medical value travel from Kenya, as well as extensive
people-to-people contacts.
India and Kenya share a common legacy of struggle against colonialism. Many Indians participated
and supported the freedom struggle of Kenya. India established the office of Commissioner for British East
Africa resident in Nairobi in 1948. Following Kenyan independence in December 1963, a High Commission was
established. India has an Assistant High Commission in Mombasa.
Bilateral Institutional Mechanisms:
-
Joint Commission Meeting (JCM):
JCM at the Foreign Minister level was set up in 1999. There were three meetings of JCM - 2003 in Nairobi,
March 2019 in New Delhi and 3rd JCM in June 2021 where External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar met with
his counterpart Amb. Raychelle Omamo, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
-
Joint Trade Committee (JTC):
The India-Kenya JTC was set up at Ministerial level in 1983. The 9th Session of the JTC was held on 19- 20
August 2019 in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush
Goyal.
-
Foreign Office Consultations (FOC):
Foreign Office Consultations were instituted in 2003 through an MoU. The first FOC were held in Nairobi in
June 2016. The second round of FOC at Joint Secretary-level was held on 8 April 2022 in New Delhi.
-
Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC):
JDCC was formed in 2019 and its first meeting was held in February 2019 in India. The second JDCC meeting
was held in Nairobi on 8-9 November 2022. The third JDCC meeting was held in New Delhi on 3 September 2024.
In the third JDCC meeting, the Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Shri Amitabh Prasad and the
Kenyan side by Major General David Kipkemboi Ketter.
Bilateral Visits:
-
Visit of Prime Minister Modi:
The State visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kenya on 10-11 July 2016 gave a new impetus to bilateral
partnership. Seven (MoUs)/Agreements were concluded in the fields of defence, trade and developmental
assistance during the visit. PM handed over 30 field ambulances for the Kenya Defence Forces. PM and
President Kenyatta addressed an India-Kenya Business Forum during which, five B-to-B MoUs were signed. PM
addressed a gathering of over 20,000 Indian community members in Nairobi, which was also attended by
President Kenyatta. PM delivered a lecture at the University of Nairobi and visited United Nations Office at
Nairobi. India announced gifting of Indian cancer therapy machine - Bhabhatron II - to Kenyatta National
Hospital, grant of US$ 1 million for the refurbishment of the Mahatma Gandhi graduate library of the
University of Nairobi and holding of the first ever Festival of India in Kenya.
-
Visit of President Kenyatta:
President Uhuru Kenyatta paid a State Visit to India from 10-12 January 2017. President Kenyatta attended
the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2017 on 10 January. President Kenyatta held meetings with the President and Vice
President and attended a business forum in Delhi on 12 January. A MoU on Cooperation in the agriculture
sector and LoC for US$100 million for agricultural mechanization was signed during the visit.
-
Visit of President Ruto:
President William Ruto paid a State Visit to India from 4-6 December 2023. He met with Rashtrapati ji who
also hosted a State Banquet in his honour. He held detailed discussions with Prime Minister. Five
MoUs/agreements were signed during the visit in the areas of Sports, Digital Solutions, Culture, Standards,
and Education. President Ruto attended the India-Kenya Trade and Investment Forum on 5 December 2023 and
also met with select business leaders of Indian companies. Announcements made and documents issued during
the visit included - India-Kenya Joint Statement, Joint Maritime Vision Statement titled BAHARI; Kenya’s
decision to join ISA and the GBA; a LoC of US $250 million for Agriculture modernization; Customized
training program for 20 Space Scientists in ISRO; A geo-spatial information portal for Kenya with Indian
remote sensing data and increase in ICCR scholarships from 48 to 80 per year.
-
Visit of External Affairs Minister:
S. Jaishankar visited Nairobi from 12-15 June 2021 and co-chaired the 3rd Joint Commission Meeting (JCM)
with his then counterpart Amb. Raychelle Omamo. EAM called on President Uhuru Kenyatta. During the visit,
EAM inaugurated the Mahatma Gandhi Library at University of Nairobi which has been renovated with GOI grant
assistance of US $ One million.
High-level visits through History:
- Vice President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan visited Kenya in July 1956. Prime Minister Morarji Desai visited Kenya
in 1978. President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy visited Kenya in 1981. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Kenya
in 1981 and participated in UN Energy Summit. Before that in 1970, she stopped over on her way to Zambia for
NAM summit. She had also attended the Kenyan Independence celebrations in 1963.
- From Kenya, the President Daniel Arap Moi visited India in 1981. President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the 3rd
India-Africa Forum Summit and held bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2015.
High-level visits since September 2022 [After current Government assumed Office in
Kenya]:
From India:
- Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan paid an official
visit to Kenya from 22-23 November, 2023. A 30-member business delegation from the Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) accompanied the Minister. He called on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet
Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, and met Cabinet Secretary, Investment,
Trade and Industry; and Principal Secretary, ICT and Digital Economy. He also addressed a India-Kenya joint
business forum and launched the ‘India Kenya Business Council'(IKBC) along with Ms Rebecca Miano, Cabinet
Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry.
- Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan attend the
swearing-in ceremony of President Dr. William Ruto on 13 September 2022.
- Hon’ble Speaker of Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla accompanied by a parliamentary delegation paid an official visit
to Kenya on 16-18 January 2023. This was first bilateral visit by an Indian Speaker in four decades. He
called on President of Kenya and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The delegation held meetings with
Speaker of the National Assembly; the Speaker of Senate and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
- Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS), visited Kenya in June 2023. He met
General Francis O Ogolla, Chief of Defence Forces, KDF and Mr. Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary for Defence.
- A delegation led by Mr Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER), visited Kenya from 10-12 April 2024 with approximately 25
Indian companies and institutes dealing in Agriculture sector to assess opportunities for investment in
Kenyan agriculture sector. Secy (ER) held discussions with Principal Secretary ASAL Harsama Kello and
Principal Secretary for Agriculture Dr Paul Ronoh during India-Kenya Business Forum organised 10 April 2024
which saw participation by over 100 companies. The delegation also undertook field visit in Nyandarua and
Uasin Gishu County.
- Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane visited Kenya from 25-27 September 2024 in a significant effort to
further deepen defence cooperation. During his visit, the Defence Secretary held talks with the Cabinet
Secretary and Principal Secretary for Defence of Kenya. He laid the foundation stone of a new Radiology
Complex, being built and equipped under the bilateral defence partnership.
From Kenya:
- Dorcas Agik Abuya Oduor, Attorney General of Kenya, along with 29 senior officials representing key
ministries, traveled to India to attend the Special Capacity Building Programme on Leadership & National
Transformation for Kenyan Senior Civil Servants, organized by the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG)
from 13-18 January 2025. The Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr. Jitendra
Singh, interacted with them.
- Principal Secretary for State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs Mr Geoffrey E. Kaituko visited
India in November 2024 to attend Conference titled Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue held in New Delhi
on 19 November 2024.
- Ms Roseline Kathure Njogu, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department of Diaspora visited India from 12-15
November 2024 for benchmarking study visit.
- Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Aden Duale, visited India from 28-31 August 2023. It was the highest level
stand-alone political visit from Kenya since the new government assumed office in 2022. He had discussions
with Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on expanding defence cooperation between the two countries. He also
met External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and visited Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL). An MoU was signed between
GSL & Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL) for ship-building cooperation.
- Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Ms. Roselinda Soipan Tuya, visited India
from 21-23 July 2023 for the Global Biofuel Alliance event on the margins of the G20 Ministerial Meeting on
Energy Transition in Goa. She had a bilateral meeting with Minister, MoPNG, Shri Hardeep Puri.
- Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication & Digital Economy, Mr. Eliud Owalo, led a team to India for
the Global DPI Summit on the sidelines of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group in June 2023. The CS met
with Minister of State for External Affairs Mr V Muraleedharan. The team also visited UIDAI, MOSIP, and
IIIT-Bangalore.
- Principal Secretary for Wildlife Ms Silvia Museiya attended the launch event for the International Big Cat
Alliance (IBCA) in Mysuru, Karnataka on 9 April, 2023.
- Chief Justice of Kenya, M Martha Koome visited India under the Distinguished Visitors' Programme of ICCR in
March 2023. During her visit, she paid a courtesy call on President of India. She joined Supreme Court bench
during a hearing on invitation of Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India.
- Cabinet Secretary for Energy & Petroleum, Mr. Davis Chirchir visited India to attend ‘India Energy Week'from
6-8 February 2023.
- Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo
Gitau visited India in May 2025 to attend the Waves 2025 meeting on with our Minister of Information &
Broadcasting.
Bilateral Trade:
An India-Kenya Trade Agreement was signed in 1981, under which both countries accorded Most
Favoured Nation status to each other. Currently India is 3rd largest trading partner of Kenya, after China and
UAE. Main Indian exports to Kenya include petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, steel products, machinery, yarn,
vehicles and power transmission equipment. Main Kenyan exports to India include soda ash, vegetables, tea,
leather and metal scrap.
The Government of India has provided market access to Kenyan avocados in August 2023. The first
consignment of Kenyan avocados was ceremonially flagged off from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi to
India on 16th September 2023.
According to the Kenya Investment Authority, India is one of the top investors in Kenya. Over 200
Indian companies are present in various sectors including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, telecom, IT & ITES,
banking and agro-based industries.
Indian companies with presence in Kenya include PSUs like Bank of Baroda, Bank of India and
KenIndia Assurance, and private companies like Bharti Airtel, Air India, Indigo Airlines, Tata Motors, Tata
Chemicals, Mahindra & Mahindra, Thermax, Godrej, representative offices of Indian hospital chains, IT companies
like Mahindra Tech and Zoho, Agri-company UPL, and over 200 Indian pharma companies registered in Kenya for
mostly trade.
A bilateral Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) was signed in 1989. Revised DTAA was
signed in July 2016 and came into force on 30 August 2017.
India and Kenya enjoy non-stop air connectivity between Nairobi - Delhi on Air India (thrice a
week) and Nairobi - Mumbai on Kenya Airways (twice daily). In August 2023, Indigo Airlines has launched non-stop
air service between Mumbai - Nairobi (daily) making it the airline’s first foray into Africa.
A Joint Business Council (JBC) was set up in 1985 by the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KNCCI). It was revived in
January 2017 and met in New Delhi in January 2017 and in August 2018.
The following table summarizes the bilateral trade figures.
|
Year
|
2018-19
|
2019-20
|
2020-21
|
2021-22
|
2022-23
|
2023-24
|
|
EXPORT
|
2,071.84
|
2,108.58
|
1,895.84
|
2,631.89
|
3,273.66
|
3,174.83
|
|
%Growth
|
4.93
|
1.77
|
-10.09
|
38.82
|
24.38
|
-3.02
|
|
IMPORT
|
137.12
|
89.62
|
130.27
|
145.35
|
116.68
|
176.34
|
|
%Growth
|
88.96
|
-34.64
|
45.36
|
11.58
|
-19.73
|
51.13
|
|
TOTAL TRADE
|
2,208.96
|
2,198.20
|
2026.11
|
2,777.24
|
3,390.34
|
3351.17
|
|
%Growth
|
7.90
|
-.049
|
-7.82
|
37.07
|
22.08
|
-1.16
|
(Source: Department of Commerce, India, Figures in USD million)
Development Cooperation and Capacity Building:
India offers limited development assistance to Kenya in the form of loans and credit. In July 2016, India
extended US$ 15 million in LoC to IDB Capital Limited for development of SMEs, currently underutilization. In
November 2010, a Line of Credit of US$ 61.6 million was extended by India to Kenya for utilization in the power
transmission sector during the visit of then PM Raila Odinga, which has substantially been utilised. A Line of
Credit agreement of US$ 29.95 million for upgradation of Rift Valley Textiles Factory (RIVATEX East Africa
Limited) was signed in July 2016. The upgraded facility was inaugurated by the then President Uhuru Kenyatta on
21 June 2019. A LoC of US $ 250 million for Agriculture modernization was announced during visit of President
Ruto to India in December 2023.
The Mahatma Gandhi Graduate Library at the University of Nairobi was renovated through Indian
assistance of US$ 1 million and inaugurated by Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister during his visit in
June 2021.
Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane, during his visit to Kenya, laid the foundation stone on
27 September 2024 at Kenyan Navy Base, Mtongwe of the CT scan infrastructure and CT Scan Machine which was
donated by Government of India. Total cost of the project is USD 12,31,210/-.
15 sets of parachutes (made in India by Gliders India Limited) for an amount of INR 1.11 crores
and facilitated by Indian Army were donated by India in December 2024.
Kenya is offered 240 civilian slots for training in various fields under the Indian Technical &
Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme and roughly 80 ICCR scholarships. Apart from this, many Kenyan students go
to India under the Study in India programme and as self-financing students.
Regional and Multilateral Cooperation:
India and Kenya cooperate closely in
regional and multi-lateral fora. Kenya is important member of the AU Committee of 10 Heads of State responsible
for preparation of common African position on UNSC reforms. Kenya has extended (reciprocal) support for India’s
candidature for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for term 2028-29. India and Kenya are also
founding members of IORA.
People to people contacts:
India is the fifth largest source of inbound tourists for Kenya. According to Kenya Tourism
Board, out of 2.08 million tourists in 2023, 94,273 tourists were Indians. KTB has launched a marketing campaign
in major Indian cities to increase tourist arrivals from India. In the other direction to India, in 2023, total
359 tourist visas were issued by the Mission.
The first-ever Festival of India in Kenya named “Urafiki Utsav” was held from 10 October to 28
November 2016. Six cultural troupes from India performed in five cities of Kenya. Kenyan troupes have
participated in Surajkund International Crafts Mela.
The Kenya-India Friendship Association (KIFA) was set up in 1981. ‘Bharatwallah Alumni
Association'(an alumni association of Kenyan students who had studied in India for the last over 50 years) was
formally launched in May 2016. It is estimated that there are currently 1200 Kenyans studying in various
institutions in India.
Late Kenyan Nobel Peace laureate and environmentalist Prof. Wangari Maathai had been conferred
the 2005 Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding. An MoU on establishment of an ICCR Chair on
Indian studies was signed in March 2015.
Cooperation in Health
Many Kenyans travel to India for medical treatment of critical ailments every year. It is
understood that 90% of international medical travel from Kenya is to India, followed by Thailand and Turkey. In
2022, Mission issued 4000 medical visas to Kenyans. Mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccines has also been agreed
to by both sides. Under Vaccine Maitri, Kenya was given 1.12 million doses of Covishield in March 2021 (1.02
million under COVAX alliance and 100,000 as gift). A MoU for establishing a tertiary care hospital in Eldoret,
Kenya was signed between Apollo Hospital and Baler Healthcare, Kenya.
Cooperation in the field of Wildlife Conservation and Management
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India and Kenya on Cooperation in the field of
Wildlife Conservation and Management on 23 May 2025.
Indian Community and Diaspora in Kenya:
Indians were trading with the Swahili coast since early historical times. Later, a large number
of Indians came since 1895 to build the British railway line from Mombasa to Uganda. Kenyan Indians were also
active participants in Kenya’s pre-independence period included the labour leader Makhan Singh, M. A. Desai and
Pio Gama Pinto.
Today, a vibrant community of persons of Indian origin presently numbering around 80,000
including an estimated 20,000 Indian citizens love in Kenya. There are many associations representing different
communities among the Indian Diaspora as well as several places of worship, schools, etc. Several Kenyans of
Indian origin have distinguished themselves as lawyers, judges, doctors and academics.
Five persons of Indian origin from Kenya have been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman: Mr.
Manilal Premchand Chandaria, Mr. Pheroze Nowrojee (now deceased), Mr. P.V. Sambasiva Rao, Dr. Prakash M. Heda,
and Dr. FRS De Souza (now deceased).
*****
[May, 2025]
