Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla met with Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses M. Wetang'ula, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, and the Kenyan Parliamentary delegation at the Parliament House Complex on August 13, 2026. During the bilateral meeting, Shri Birla emphasized the historical and multifaceted relations between India and Kenya dating back millennia, noting that regular high-level engagements have continuously strengthened bilateral ties.
Shri Birla welcomed the Kenyan government's decision to recognize Persons of Indian Origin as an indigenous community, which deepens relations between the two countries. Both nations share importance on democracy, inclusive development, and human-centric progress. Kenya agreed to install a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Parliament of Kenya, acknowledging Gandhi's influence on Kenya's freedom struggle against colonial rule.
Shri Birla highlighted India's democratic achievements, noting approximately 970 million eligible voters with around 650 million casting their votes in recent elections, reflecting strong public faith in democracy. The parliamentary dialogue between India and Kenya is growing stronger through the constitution of Parliamentary Friendship Groups in both countries and regular exchanges of parliamentary delegations.
India offered to share its technological expertise in parliamentary functioning, particularly the use of Artificial Intelligence to promote transparency, efficiency, inclusivity, and public participation. The Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) has regularly organized programs tailored for Members and officials of the Kenyan Parliament.
Dr. Wetang'ula thanked India for the warm welcome and noted that the 28th CSPOC held in New Delhi earlier in 2026 was one of the best organized parliamentary events. He acknowledged the important contributions of people of Indian origin to Kenya's growth and development, stating the Indian community is active in all walks of life including Parliament and Government. Kenya supports India's candidature as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and called for democratic reforms of the UNSC to better reflect 21st century realities.