(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Kenya’s Navy Commander, Major General Paul Owuor Otieno, kicked off his official visit to India with a warm welcome in New Delhi. On Monday, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi greeted him with a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns, highlighting the growing bond between the two nations.
During the visit, which runs from September 28 to October 2, Otieno and Indian leaders dove into talks on boosting maritime cooperation. They covered everything from joint operations and training to hydrographic work, including plans for the multilateral Exercise Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME). These discussions aim to strengthen Kenya-India ties and support peace and stability across the Indian Ocean Region.
Otieno also met with Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi to discuss ways to deepen bilateral defence cooperation. As maritime neighbors, India and Kenya share a strong partnership built on regular high-level visits, expanding trade, investments, and close people-to-people connections. According to an update from the Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information on X, the leaders focused on regional security challenges, the shifting geostrategic landscape in the Indian Ocean, and their joint commitment to keeping the area stable.
Earlier that day, Otieno paid respects at the National War Memorial and received another Guard of Honour in the capital. As the 14th Commander of the Kenya Navy, Otieno brings over 37 years of experience, including key roles in military operations, peacekeeping missions, and strategic planning both in Kenya and abroad, per the Kenya Ministry of Defence.
India and Kenya’s relationship goes beyond the seas—they share a history of fighting colonialism, with many Indians supporting Kenya’s independence movement. Just this June, India’s Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defence Roselinda Soipan Tuya unveiled the India-Africa Commemorative War Memorial in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, to honor soldiers from both countries who gave their lives.
Adding to the naval momentum, the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron stopped at Mombasa, Kenya, on September 25. Ships like INS Tir, INS Sujata, INS Shardul, and ICGS Sarathi joined forces with the Kenya Navy for fun and productive activities, including a yoga session, a band performance, strategy talks, and a deck reception aboard INS Shardul. These steps show how India-Kenya maritime ties continue to grow stronger.
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