VP Radhakrishnan meets Kenyan Parliamentary delegation in New Delhi
New Delhi, August 14
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday held a meeting with Moses M. Wetang'ula, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, who is leading a Parliamentary Delegation to India.
During the meeting, the Vice-President highlighted the close parliamentary ties between India and Kenya and expressed India's readiness to share its experience in technology solutions and digital technology, including the use of digital technology leading towards a paperless Parliament, a press release from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat stated.
He noted the presence of an Indian-origin Member of Parliament in Kenya's Parliamentary Friendship Group and recalled with appreciation the proposal to install a bust of Mahatma Gandhi within the premises of the National Assembly of Kenya.
The Vice-President recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Kenya in 2016, followed by the visit of President Ruto to India in 2023.
Referring to India's development partnership with Kenya, the Vice-President noted that several projects had been executed in the form of grant-in-aid, including the refurbishment of the Mahatma Gandhi Graduate Library of the University of Nairobi and the CT scan infrastructure at the Kenyan Navy Base, Mtongwe. He also recalled India's assistance during the Ebola Virus Outbreak, when India delivered the first tranche of 4.5 tonnes of medical supplies.
The Vice-President highlighted India's continued support for capacity building in Kenya. He stated that the Government of India offers around 400 scholarships, including training courses for various Government Ministries. He further noted that 20 diplomats from Kenya are undergoing capacity development in India. He informed that ICCR scholarships for long-term courses have been increased from 80 to 100 annually.
Radhakrishnan also highlighted the Agreement on the Digi-Locker pilot project in Kenya, which was signed during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. He further noted that Indian and Kenyan teams are working on the GATI Shakti project for Kenya.
He thanked Kenya for supporting India's candidature for the non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the term 2028-29. He sought Kenya's support for India's permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.
Emphasising the historical ties between the two countries, the Vice-President noted that India and the Swahili coast had well-established trading routes for the benefit of each other. He also expressed India's hope that Kenya would join the International Solar Alliance and the International Big Cat Alliance.
As per the press release, he also highlighted the centuries-old people-to-people ties between India and Kenya and said that he was delighted to note that the Indian diaspora had been recognised as the 44th tribe of Kenya.
Concluding the meeting, the Vice President thanked the Kenyan Parliamentary Delegation for visiting India and conveyed his best wishes for a pleasant and productive stay. He expressed confidence that the visit would further deepen parliamentary engagement and contribute to strengthening the comprehensive partnership between India and Kenya.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The mention of the Indian diaspora being recognised as the 44th tribe of Kenya really touched my heart. It shows how deep our people-to-people connections run. This is what soft power diplomacy is all about - the cultural bonds that go beyond just government agreements.
Good to see India's expanding global footprint under our diplomatic efforts. The GATI Shakti project for Kenya is particularly interesting - this could be a game-changer for their infrastructure planning. Also, India's timely help during Ebola shows we stand by our friends in crisis.
I appreciate the consistent support India is extending to developing nations. However, I hope we also focus on receiving more African students for higher education, not just 100 ICCR scholarships. The numbers feel modest when we talk about the strength of our relationship. Still, it's a step in the right direction. 👍
Kenya supporting India for UNSC permanent membership is huge! The more allies we have in Global South, the stronger our case becomes for reforming the Security Council. India deserves a permanent seat with all the peacekeeping contributions and development assistance we've provided over decades.
The Mahatma Gandhi Library refurbishment and the bust installation show our cultural diplomacy in action. It's inspiring that Gandhi's legacy still resonates in Africa. And the Digi-Locker pilot for Kenya - now that's exporting Made in India digital solutions! 🚀
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