CS Duale leads Kenya in signing deal on ship-building technology with India

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Kenya and India.

This was during bilateral talks between CS Duale and India's Defence Minister Raksha Mantri.

During the talks,  Duale and Mantri implored on a number of defence issues that both countries can mutually support each other.

"I also witnessed the signing of the MoU between Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL) and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). This will guide KSL to sail through and be one of the anchor companies in ship-building technology in Africa," Duale said in a statement.

During the talks, the CS was accompanied by Kenya's Ambassador to India Willy Bett, Maj Gen P Otieno, Brigadier E Rugendo and other senior officers.

Also, capacity building and cooperation in the defence industry and equipment were also discussed at length by the two sides

As a token of friendship, India's CS for Defence presented 15 pairs of parachutes (main and reserve) manufactured by the Gliders India Limited to the Duale for use by the Kenyan military.

India also extended support towards setting up of an advanced CT scan facility in Kenya. 

"For a long time now, Kenya has had a good and long cordial relationship with India going back to the 1960s when our two high commissions were established in both countries. We acknowledge the support that the Indian government has so far extended to Kenya," Duale stated.

Going further, CS Duale revealed that various security issues affecting Africa and most especially Kenya were also discussed.

"We discussed on how both countries can work together for the stability that can contribute to our economic development," he said.

In addition, Duale congratulated the Indian government for their recent achievement of landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the Lunar South Pole.

They are now the fourth country in the world after the Soviet Union, the USA, and China to conduct a soft landing on the moon.

Duale is in India on Monday for a three-day state visit.

On Tuesday, the Defence boss visited India's War Memorial site in New Delhi where he laid a wreath in honour of the fallen soldiers.