Date: 2026-01-22Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Kenya Defence Forces must explore collaborative opportunities with Indian companies, says Secretary (Defence Production) at 3rd India-Kenya Defence Exhibition & Seminar
**Executive Summary**
The Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar urged the Kenya Defence Forces to explore collaborative opportunities with Indian companies at the 3rd India-Kenya Defence Exhibition & Seminar in Nairobi, concluded January 21, 2026. The event highlighted Indian defense industrial capabilities. It focused on building bilateral relations and long-term cooperation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Exhibition & Seminar Details:**
* 3rd India-Kenya Defence Exhibition & Seminar was held in Nairobi.
* The seminar fostered industrial collaboration, co-development, and capacity building.
* It served as a platform built on foundations laid in November 2022 and January 2024.
* 21 Indian defence companies showcased specialized product profiles.
* **Showcased Domains:**
* Shipbuilding, Armoured and Military vehicles, UAVs, Missile Systems, Cyber Security, Weapons, Ammunition, Explosives, Optical devices, and Protection systems, among others.
* **Key Attendees:**
* Cabinet Secretary for Defence Ms Soipan Tuya.
* Vice Chief of Kenya Defence Lt Gen John M Omenda.
* Commanders of Army, DNSI and more than 50 senior officers from the defence ministry of Kenya.
* Principal Secretary, MoD Kenya Mr Patrick Mariru.
* **Bilateral Meetings and Discussions:**
* Secretary Kumar held bilateral meetings with Kenyan MoD officials including Mr Patrick Mariru and Lt Gen John M. Omenda.
* Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.
* Deliberations included defence industrial partnerships, capacity building, training, marine sustainment, and long-term cooperation in defence exports and maintenance support.
* The Kenya Defence Forces will hold separate meetings with participating Indian industries.
* Encouraging participation of Indian defense companies was noted.
* **Other Engagements:**
* Secretary Kumar visited Kenya Shipyard Ltd, Mombasa.
* He pressed for early implementation of the MoU signed between Kenya Shipyard Ltd and Goa Shipyard Ltd.
**Impact Analysis**
**Kenya Defence Forces**
* **Impact:** They are urged to explore collaborative opportunities with Indian companies.
* **Action Required:** Explore collaboration opportunities with Indian companies. Participate in follow-up meetings with Indian industries.
**Indian Defence Companies**
* **Impact:** They gain a platform to showcase specialized product profiles and explore collaboration opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the India-Kenya Defence Expo and Seminar and follow up with the Kenya Defence Forces.
**Kenya Shipyard Ltd and Goa Shipyard Ltd**
* **Impact:** Expectation for early implementation of the MoU signed between them.
* **Action Required:** Expedite the implementation of the existing MoU.
Key Entities Referenced
India-Kenya Defence Exhibition & Seminar: A biennial event focused on fostering collaboration between Indian and Kenyan defence industries.
Ministry of Defence (Kenya): The Kenyan government ministry responsible for defence, engaging in bilateral talks with Indian counterparts.
Kenya Defence Forces: The armed forces of Kenya, seeking to explore collaborative opportunities with Indian companies.
Ministry of Defence (India): The Indian government ministry responsible for defence, facilitating collaboration with Kenya.
Nairobi: The location of the 3rd India-Kenya Defence Exhibition & Seminar.
Ministry of Defence
Kenya Defence Forces must explore
collaborative opportunities with Indian
companies, says Secretary (Defence Production)
at 3rd India-Kenya Defence Exhibition & Seminar
21 Indian defence companies showcase specialised product
profiles across several domains
Shri Sanjeev Kumar holds bilateral meetings with Kenya MoD
officials to strengthen bilateral defence ties
प्रव तथ: 22 JAN 2026 9:46PM by PIB Delhi
Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar has urged the Kenya Defence Forces to explore
collaborative opportunities with Indian companies. He addressed the third India-Kenya Defence
Exhibition & Seminar in Nairobi during his three-day visit to Kenya that concluded on January 21, 2026.
The Secretary (DP) highlighted the robust capabilities of the Indian defence industrial ecosystem and
emphasised on the need to build upon the strong bilateral relations and long-standing friendship built on
mutual respect, trust & cooperation.The seminar, which was organised on 19 January, served as a high-level platform for fostering industrial
collaboration, co-development, and capacity building between the two nations. The exhibition featured 21
Indian defence companies showcasing specialized product profiles across several domains, including
Shipbuilding, Armoured and Military vehicles, UAVs, Missile Systems, Cyber Security, Weapons,
Ammunition, Explosives, Optical devices, and Protection systems etc.
The event was graced by Cabinet Secretary for Defence Ms Soipan Tuya; Vice Chief of Kenya Defence Lt
Gen John M Omenda; the Commanders of Army, DNSI and more than 50 senior officers from the defence
ministry of Kenya. In her keynote address, the Cabinet Secretary for Defence noted that this third iteration
of the exhibition builds upon the successful foundations laid in November 2022 and January 2024.
During his visit, the Secretary (Defence Production) also held meetings with Principal Secretary, MoD
Kenya Mr Patrick Mariru and Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Kenya Lt Gen John M. Omenda to discuss
various areas of defence cooperation and further strengthen the ties. During the meeting with Mr Patrick
Mariru, both sides noted the encouraging participation of Indian defence companies at the India-Kenya
Defence Expo and Seminar across key defence domains including shipbuilding and naval systems, land
systems, UAVs, missile systems, weapons, ammunition and explosives, armoured and military vehicles,
optical devices, protection systems, and cyber security. It was also noted that the Kenya Defence Forces
will hold separate meetings with participating Indian industries.
Discussions with Lt Gen John M Omenda focused on further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.
Deliberations were held on defence industrial partnerships, capacity building, training, marine
sustainment, and long-term cooperation in defence exports and maintenance support.Shri Sanjeev Kumar also visited Kenya Shipyard Ltd, Mombasa and pressed for an early implementation
of MoU signed between Kenya Shipyard Ltd and Goa Shipyard Ltd.
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