Kenya and India have reinforced their defence collaboration, focusing on industrial partnerships, during the third India–Kenya Defence Exhibition and Seminar held in Nairobi on January 19, 2026.
The event coincided with a visit by an Indian defence delegation led by Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary for Defence Production in India’s Ministry of Defence. The visit highlighted India’s commitment to supporting African nations with advanced defence technology and manufacturing expertise.
Organised jointly by the High Commission of India in Kenya and the Kenya Defence Forces, and supported by India’s Department of Defence Production, the exhibition signals a shift in the partnership from conventional defence cooperation toward industrial engagement. Previous editions of the exhibition were held in 2022 and 2024.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, Sanjeev Kumar, and the Indian High Commissioner to Kenya formally inaugurated the exhibition and seminar.
The exhibition featured 21 Indian companies from both private and public sectors, presenting a variety of defence platforms, systems, and production capabilities. The showcase underlined India’s Make in India programme and its readiness to export defence equipment to partner countries.
On the sidelines, Sanjeev Kumar held meetings with Kenya’s senior defence officials, including Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru and Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen John Omenda. The discussions focused on boosting defence industrial cooperation, capacity building, training programmes, sustainment partnerships, and enhancing logistics and maintenance support.
The delegation also visited Kenya Shipyard Limited in Mtongwe, where talks focused on implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2023 between Goa Shipyard Limited and Kenya Shipyard Limited. The MoU is designed to strengthen cooperation in shipbuilding, repairs, and sustainment, with significant implications for Kenya’s maritime security and industrial development.
The exhibition and visits highlighted India’s growing role as a defence manufacturing and technology partner for African countries seeking reliable alternative suppliers. For Kenya, the engagement is part of efforts to expand local capabilities while enhancing international cooperation in security and defence production.
India and Kenya share long-standing diplomatic relations, with defence collaboration becoming an increasingly central pillar of the bilateral partnership. The Nairobi exhibition and associated meetings are expected to further solidify industrial collaboration and set the stage for expanded future cooperation.
