The visit comes amid India's continuing outreach to African nations on a range of issues
In what is expected to open new avenues for defence cooperation between the two countries, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Defence Aden Bare Duale arrived in New Delhi on Monday (August 28, 2023) on a three-day visit for wide-ranging discussions on the issue.
 
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold 
talks with his Kenyan counterpart on Tuesday (August 29, 2023), India's Ministry of Defence said. The visiting Kenyan dignitary is expected to visit Indian shipyards and defence industries in Goa and Bengaluru during his stay.
 
This is Cabinet Secretary Duale's maiden visit to India and the highest level stand-alone political visit from Kenya since the new government assumed office in September 2022. 
 
"The visit is indicative of the importance India attaches to its relations with African nations and the growing cooperation between India and Kenya, in particular. It is expected to open new avenues for further strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries," the Ministry of Defence said. 

Earlier this month, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Defence had described India as one of Kenya's "strategic allies" in Asia with the two countries having a firm history of cooperation, notably in trade and defence, dating way before independence.

The visit comes amid India's continuing outreach to African nations on a range of issues ranging from development partnership and capacity building to closer cooperation in the domains of defence and security.
 
India and Kenya enjoy warm and friendly relations that have evolved into a multi-faceted partnership, marked by high-level visits, increasing trade and investment and a mutual resolve to strengthen defence cooperation. 

The State visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kenya on July 10-11, 2016 gave a new impetus to the bilateral partnership. Prime Minister Modi and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta discussed a wide range of bilateral issues. Both leaders witnessed signing of seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)/Agreements in the fields of defence, trade and developmental assistance. PM Modi handed over 30 field ambulances for the use of the Kenya Defence Forces.
 
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid an official visit to Nairobi from June 12-15, 2021 and co-chaired the 3rd India-Kenya Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his Kenyan counterpart, Minister for Foreign Affairs Raychelle Omamo.
 
The second Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and Kenya was held in Nairobi, Kenya on November 8-9, 2022. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress made in military-to-military engagements, including Joint Exercises, Training, High Level visits, Expert Exchanges, Industry Cooperation and Cooperation in the field of Research and Development.

It was decided to identify new avenues and examine areas of mutual interest in order to enhance defence industry cooperation, including by exploring joint ventures.

The two countries already  have a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation in the field of military medical services, training and exercises, military culture, sports and adventure as well as the supply of military materials and equipment. India extends various training courses annually to personnel from the Kenya Defence Forces, hosted within its numerous military institutions.