Kenya and India navies affirm commitment to tackling maritime threats
By Kiprono Keileb, October 7, 2025Kenya and India have reaffirmed their joint commitment to strengthen maritime security and regional cooperation within the Indian Ocean, following a high-level meeting between the Kenya Navy and the Indian Navy in New Delhi.
According to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) post on X on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Kenya and the Indian Navy have enhanced cooperation.
“Commander Kenya Navy, Major General Paul Otieno, recently made an official visit to India, marking a significant step in enhancing defence cooperation between the Kenya Navy and Indian Navy,” the statement reads.
During the visit, the Kenya Navy delegation was received by the Indian Navy Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, at South Block in New Delhi, where Major General Otieno was accorded a Guard of Honour.
The discussions between the two Navy chiefs focused on security and training. “Maritime issues of mutual concern, including maritime cooperation, regional maritime security challenges, training cooperation, information exchange and capacity building,” the statement reads.
KDF said the talks reinforced the shared goal. ” Their deliberations reinforced the shared commitment of Kenya and India to regional maritime security, peace and stability within the Western Indian Ocean,” the statement reads. The meeting was also a follow-up on the joint maritime vision code-named ‘BAHARI’ issued in December 2023 by President William Ruto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During his trip, the Kenya Navy Commander paid courtesy calls to India’s Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi. “He reiterated Kenya’s commitment to a collective response to regional maritime security challenges and appreciated the unique contribution of the Indian Navy in the security and stability of the Indian Ocean region,” the statement reads
As part of the visit, KDF said he also laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in recognition of the important role played by Indian fallen heroes.
The Kenya Navy delegation further visited the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram, where “Major Brian Twalah was inducted as the first International Liaison Officer representing Kenya and the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA) at the IFC-IOR,” the statement reads
To deepen training cooperation, the visit also included a tour of several Indian Navy institutions under the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. These included the Navigation Direction School, Communication School, Seamanship School, Indian Navy Hospital, INS Sanjivani, and the Indian Navy Ship Kabra.
The KDF said the engagement marked a renewed effort to build stronger regional ties and enhance Kenya’s capacity to respond to evolving maritime threats across the Indian Ocean.