Nairobi: India’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Adarsh Swaika, on December 18 underscored the deep historical foundations, robust bilateral partnership, and future potential of India–Kenya relations.

Addressing Kenyan media, the High Commissioner said the partnership had been built not only by governments, but by people — workers, traders, soldiers, journalists, and freedom fighters — rooted in over 2,000 years of Indian Ocean connections and shared historical experiences.

Expanding Cooperation

According to the Indian High Commission in Nairobi, Swaika highlighted the strength of current cooperation, including high-level political engagements, expanding defence cooperation, growing trade and investment, development partnership, education, healthcare, and vibrant people-to-people ties, along with India’s consistent support for Africa’s voice in global forums.

He emphasised that India–Kenya relations are anchored in trust, shaped by history, and firmly oriented towards mutual benefit for both countries and their people.

Environmental Partnership

The week prior, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh met Kenya’s Environment Minister Deborah Mlongo Barasa on the sidelines of the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, discussing ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in conservation, climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture, and environmental governance.

India’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Adarsh Swaika, and other officials also attended the meeting.

Climate and Sustainability

In a post on X, Singh said, “Delighted to meet Kenya’s Environment Minister H.E. Dr Deborah Mlongo Barasa during my visit to Nairobi for UNEA-7. We explored avenues to enhance India–Kenya cooperation in conservation, climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture and improved environmental governance. Together, we remain committed to a greener and more resilient future.”

Wildlife and Tourism

Singh also met John Ololtuaa, Kenya’s Principal Secretary, State Department of Tourism, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.

Both sides reviewed growing cooperation in wildlife conservation, including the MoU on wildlife management signed earlier this year, and explored new avenues to deepen collaboration in sustainable wildlife protection.

“Look forward to early signing of the framework agreement of the International Big Cat Alliance by Kenya, as one of its founding members. Appreciated our growing tourism linkages and discussed ways to further augment tourism flows,” Singh posted on X.