India and Kenya held the third round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on 3 February 2026 in Nairobi, reflecting the sustained momentum in their bilateral engagement and the shared intent to further deepen cooperation. The consultations were co-chaired by Shri Janesh Kain, Joint Secretary (East and Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs of India, and Ambassador Jane Makori, Deputy Director General (Asia and Pacific Directorate), Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya.
The dialogue enabled a comprehensive assessment of bilateral relations, with both sides reviewing progress across a wide range of sectors. Discussions covered political relations, trade and investment, defence and security cooperation, digital public infrastructure, development partnership, agriculture, health, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. The consultations reaffirmed the growing breadth of engagement and the mutual commitment to advancing cooperation in priority areas.
Economic engagement was a prominent feature during the consultations. On the margins of the FOC, Shri Janesh Kain met Ms. Regina Ombam, Principal Secretary for Trade, underscoring the importance both countries attach to strengthening trade, investment, and commercial linkages. The Indian delegation also visited the Mahatma Gandhi Library at the University of Nairobi, highlighting the role of educational and cultural institutions in sustaining long-standing ties between the two nations.
The two sides also discussed regional and international developments, exchanging perspectives on issues of shared concern. They noted the value of continued coordination and cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral forums, reflecting a shared commitment to multilateralism and rule-based international cooperation. In this context, India conveyed its expectation of high-level Kenyan participation in the forthcoming AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, signalling growing engagement in emerging and future-oriented domains.
An important outcome of the consultations was the agreement to strengthen bilateral institutional mechanisms. Both sides agreed to convene meetings of the Bilateral Joint Commission, the Joint Trade Committee, and the Joint Working Group on Agriculture at an early date. These mechanisms were identified as essential platforms to ensure structured dialogue, effective follow-up, and tangible outcomes across sectors.
It was also agreed that the next round of Foreign Office Consultations would be held in India at a mutually convenient time, continuing the established practice of alternating venues.
The consultations thus served not only as a review mechanism, but also as a forward-looking platform to shape the next phase of India-Kenya relations in an evolving regional and global context.
