How shared values cement Kenya and India ties

On January 26, 1950, a newly independent India gave effect to a Constitution that turned it into a sovereign democratic republic. This foundational contract was deliberated and debated for nearly three years by a Constituent Assembly before its adoption.  

This year marks the 76th year of that momentous day, known as ‘Republic Day.’ Over the past eight decades, an exceptional distance has been traversed in the endeavour to secure peace, progress, and prosperity for 1.4 billion Indians. At the time of its independence from British colonial rule in 1947, extreme poverty and grinding hunger plagued India with a literacy rate of only 12 percent and a life expectancy of only 32 years across its 340 million people.

Today, India is the fifth-largest economy in the world and has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of multi-dimensional poverty. From tackling food insecurity to making technological breakthroughs, India’s development trajectory has been remarkable. 

The Green Revolution turned India from a food-deficient country into one of the world’s largest agricultural producers and exporters. Today, India’s digital transformation has become synonymous with initiatives like Aadhaar, the largest biometric identification system, and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has revolutionized financial inclusion. 

India’s scientific community has made its mark in space exploration, through projects like the Mars Orbiter Mission and the recent lunar landing by the Chandrayaan-3 Mission. These achievements are not just milestones for India; they are also relevant for other nations with similar priorities and challenges. 

The economic, scientific, and technological progress attained by India over the decades has laid a strong foundation for the far-reaching transformation that is currently underway in the country. The Indian story directly touches nearly one-fifth of humanity. It also resonates beyond its borders, particularly with developing nations in upholding a vision of equitable and inclusive growth. 

With Kenya, our contemporary partnership inspires optimism underpinned by the historical affinity between us. We are connected by the Indian ocean which has enabled people-to-people links going back centuries. The Indian-origin Asian community in Kenya, also known as the 44th tribe of Kenya, is a living bridge of friendship with India and a visible reminder of the richness of our contacts. 

India and Kenya can together consolidate their cooperation in areas of convergent opportunities and aspirations. In agriculture, India’s advancements in climate-resilient farming offer insights to enhance productivity and food security. Similarly, India’s digital innovations, such as Aadhaar and UPI, complement Kenya’s own success with M-Pesa, helping advance financial inclusion and digital empowerment.

In healthcare, India’s Ayushman Bharat program and its pharmaceutical industry provide scalable models to expand access to affordable medicine and strengthen health systems. Renewable energy presents another avenue based on Kenya’s renewable energy commitments, fostering sustainable development and climate resilience.

On this Republic Day, as Indians celebrate our own unique journey, we recognise the boundless potential of partnerships with the rest of the world. Shared interests, common values and mutually beneficial opportunities build durable partnerships like the one we enjoy with Kenya.

We value our unwavering friendship with Kenya nurtured by our people and supported by both governments. Together, we can create a world that is equitable, sustainable and evokes hope and promise for future generations.

 -The writer is High Commissioner of India to Kenya