Kenya
India and Kenya are maritime neighbours. The contemporary ties between India and Kenya have now evolved into a robust and multi-faceted partnership, marked by regular high-level visits, increasing trade and investment 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. Apasaheb Pant was the first Commissioner. Following Kenyan independence in December 1963, a High Commission was established. India has had an Assistant High Commission in Mombasa.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- Covid related: In August 2020, a gift of consignment of medicines related to COVID19 was handed over to Kenyan government. Under Vaccine Maitri, Kenya was given 1.12 million doses of Covishield (AstraZeneca) in March 2021 (1.02 million under COVAX alliance and 100,000 as gift from India).
- General Medical Assistance: Essential medicines worth USD 1.54 million have been gifted to Government of Kenya (in 2018 and 2020)
- Ambulances: India gifted 30 field ambulances to Kenyan Defence Forces during the visit of PM Modi in July 2016.
- Bhabhatron/medical equipment: A state-of-the-art made in India cancer therapy machine – Bhabhatron II and Imagin simulator worth of US $ 1 million (Rs.7.5 Crores) was gifted to Kenyatta National Hospital during the visit of PM Modi in July 2016.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- Total ITEC slots used till date/Annual slots at present.
- Since 2002, 1602 professionals have been trained under ITEC, and 1119 professionals have been trained in just 9 years since 2014-15. In 2023-24, Kenya was offered 240 Civilian ITEC, 31 Defence ITEC slots.
- ICCR Scholarships: Kenya utilized 185 slots out of 254 slots offered in last five years. In 2023-24, Kenya is offered 48 slots.
- CV Raman Scholarships: Nil
- Special training conducted:
- A special e-ITEC course was conducted for Kenyan Postal Department officers by the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy in March-April, 2021.
- Another ITEC programme on Forensic DNA technology for 20 Biology Forensic Analysts of Kenya was organized in November 2022 at the request of Kenya National Police Service.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- India offers development assistance to Kenya in the form of loans and credit. This includes a loan of Rs. 50 million to Government of Kenya in 1982 and Lines of Credit by EXIM Bank to Industrial Development Bank Capital Ltd.
- An Agreement on extension of a Line of Credit of US$ 61.6 million by EXIM Bank of India to Kenya for utilization in the power transmission sector was signed in November 2010.
- Since 2010, to strengthen bilateral cooperation, Government of India (GoI) has extended four Lines of Credit (LOC) worth USD 206.55 million to the Government of Kenya in the sectors of agriculture, power, development of Small and Medium Enterprises and textile. Out of the four Lines of Credit (LOCs), one credit line worth USD 29.95 million has already been completed in the sector of textile. The remaining three LOCs are under various stages of implementation.
- A loan agreement to extend lines of credit of US$ 15 million (as first tranche out of US$ 30 million) to IDB Capital Limited for development of SMEs was signed in July 2016.
- LoC of US $ 100 million of Agricultural Mechanization project was signed in January 2017 and later re-purposed for Revitalization of Coffee, Cotton and Livestock Sector in July 2022. Signing of the First Amendatory Agreement for repurposing of the LOC, and the bidding process for selection of consultant for preparation of DPR are awaited.
- During visit of PM Modi to Kenya in July 2016, it was announced for renovation of Mahatma Gandhi Graduate Library at the University of Nairobi with a cost of US$ 1 million. It was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister during his visit to Kenya in June 2021.
- A water hyacinth harvesting machine of Rs. 30,00,000/- was gifted to Kisumu country in November 2022
- India gifted 15 parachutes to Ministry of Defence of Kenya during the visit of Defence Minister of Kenya in August 2023.
