Kenya Defence Forces and India Joint Defence Working Group II have convened at Defence Headquarters to chart a bilateral defence agenda for the upcoming Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting to be held in the coming months.

According to the statement issued by KDF on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Indian delegation was led by the Indian defence attaché to Kenya, Navy Captain Velagada Shirdikant, and the KDF team by Colonel Benson Karuimbo in a discussion held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

Common agenda

”Deliberations provided an opportunity to shape a forward-looking agenda for possible collaboration in the fields of joint military training, defence industry cooperation, medical training and equipment, and border security management,” the KDF statement said in part.

Both delegations underlined the importance of sustained military-to-military engagements and agreed on the need to translate strategic dialogue into practical and outcome-oriented engagements.

Speaking during the meeting, Captain Velagada underscored that Kenya and India share common security challenges and reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening partnerships that contribute to border security, stability, and peace.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of agreed action points to guide future engagements and the drafting of a joint framework to advance defence cooperation. The Defence Planning Meeting marks a significant milestone in the deepening of KDF-India defence relations and reflects the mutual commitment of both nations to promoting peace, security, and stability.

The Kenya-India defence agenda comes shortly after the United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to regional security after supporting Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel through a five-week Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) course at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) in Nairobi.

According to the British High Commission’s statement on Friday, November 21, 2025, the newly trained specialists are now equipped to counter IED threats and bolster African Union and United Nations peacekeeping operations across East Africa.

The training comes at a moment when the KDF is working to restore peace in some parts of Northern Kenya and the neighbouring Somalia, regions regarded as IED-prone.

Evolving explosive threats

Kenya continues to face evolving explosive threats largely driven by the Al-Shabaab militants operating along the Somalia border. Roadside bombs and other IED attacks frequently target civilians and security convoys, causing casualties and disrupting normal life in affected areas.