Senior officials from the defence dockets of Kenya and South Africa have vowed to enhance ties between the countries in various sectors.
Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru met the acting secretary for Defence for South Africa, Dr Thobekile Gamede who underscored the need to strengthen the already existing bilateral ties between the countries through a robust Defence Cooperation Agreement (DSA).
Mariru said the two countries should explore more collaboration in a range of strategic areas.
The areas include security, blue economy, military medical and health services, defence industry, and promotion of training of military personnel through the exchange of trainees, instructors and directing staff.
Mariru spoke at Defence Headquarters in Nairobi, on Wednesday when he hosted a delegation from South Africa who were in the country on a working tour.
“We are headed in the right direction in enhancing our ties and we vow to deepen the same,” he said.
He welcomed the resolutions made by a Joint Defence Committee (JDC) comprising senior officials from the two countries.
He said the Defence Cooperation Agreements early this year should develop cogent practical ideas and resolutions to rationalise the defence agreement to conform to the current security needs of the countries.
Dr Gamede said the two countries continue to enjoy longstanding diplomatic relations dating back to 1992.
She further emphasized the need for the two countries to work together to foster regional peace and security, a critical component for the socio-economic development and prosperity of the region.
Dr Gamede urged the countries to address common challenges and bolster existing Defence Cooperation Agreements while remaining frank with each other for the formulation of concrete solutions.
Meanwhile, Kenya and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding to guide the will guide the Kenya Shipyard Limited to sail through and be one of the anchor companies in shipbuilding technology in Africa.
The MoU was signed between KSL and Goa Shipyard Limited.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale who is in India on an official visit witnessed the event with his counterpart Raksha Mantri.
The two discussed various security issues affecting Africa and most especially the region and how both countries can work together for stability that can contribute to economic development.
“I congratulated the Indian Government for their recent achievement of the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 near Lunar South Pole. They are now the fourth country in the world, after the Soviet Union, USA and China to conduct the soft landing on the moon,” he said,
Duale said Kenya and India agreed on the need for reforms of the International Financial Architecture on resource mobilization, fairness and equity in distributions.
