Kenya National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula is visiting India to deepen parliamentary exchanges and bilateral cooperation between the two countries…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Kenya’s National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula is visiting India to strengthen parliamentary exchanges and bilateral cooperation between the two countries, with discussions focusing on legislative engagement, technology, education, healthcare and development partnerships.
The visit includes engagements with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan. The Indian Embassy in Kenya said the visit would also strengthen cooperation through the recently constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups in India and Kenya.
“Kenya and India share a longstanding cordial friendship with strong legislative exchanges among the two Parliaments. I have arrived in New Delhi, India, for an official visit to the Lok Sabha at the invitation of my counterpart, the Hon. Shri Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha,” Wetang’ula stated on X.
He added that H.E. Amb received him. Mary Mutuku, Deputy Head of Mission of the Republic of Kenya to India, alongside Hon. Umeshbhai Babubhai Patel, Member of the Lok Sabha, looked forward to productive bilateral engagements aimed at deepening friendship, parliamentary ties and cooperation between Kenya and India.
Birla welcomed Wetang’ula and the Kenyan parliamentary delegation to Parliament, where the two sides discussed the longstanding relationship between the countries.
“The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the longstanding friendship between India and Kenya, rooted in shared democratic values and a common historical legacy. The recently constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups in both countries will provide an important platform for deepening parliamentary engagement, fostering greater understanding between our two Parliaments and strengthening people-to-people connections,” Speaker Birla noted on X.
Birla said sharing legislative experiences and best practices could further strengthen institutional cooperation. Discussions also covered parliamentary capacity building through the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), along with cooperation in technology and artificial intelligence, education, healthcare, infrastructure, maritime connectivity, the Blue Economy and digital development.
“I am confident that continued parliamentary engagement will add fresh momentum to India-Kenya friendship and cooperation,” Birla emphasised.
The Kenyan delegation also called on Vice-President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha C.P. Radhakrishnan.
According to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Radhakrishnan 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 towards a paperless Parliament.
He also 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 on the premises of Kenya’s National Assembly.
The discussions also touched on India’s development partnership with Kenya. Radhakrishnan noted that several projects had been undertaken through grant-in-aid, including refurbishment of the Mahatma Gandhi Graduate Library at the University of Nairobi and CT scan infrastructure at the Kenyan Navy Base in Mtongwe.
He also recalled India’s assistance to Kenya during the Ebola virus outbreak, when India delivered the first tranche of 4.5 tonnes of medical supplies.
On international cooperation, Radhakrishnan thanked Kenya for supporting India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-29 term. He also sought Kenya’s support for India’s bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
The visit comes as India and Kenya seek to expand their longstanding relationship through parliamentary exchanges, development cooperation and collaboration in emerging areas such as digital technology and artificial intelligence.
