Kenya Navy Commander Major General Paul Otieno successfully concluded a high-level strategic visit to India from 16 to 23 February 2026. The visit aimed to deepen bilateral maritime cooperation and address shared security challenges in the Indian Ocean.
Kenya was elected Chair of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) for the 2030–2032 period during the 9th Conclave of Chiefs in Goa.
Major General Otieno participated in the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 in Visakhapatnam and Exercise MILAN, the Indian Navy’s largest multilateral naval exercise.
He attended the 5th Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC 2026) and held discussions with Indian naval leaders, including Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, on operational interoperability and maritime security.
The Commander visited Goa Shipyard Limited and Zen Technologies in Delhi to explore opportunities for joint shipbuilding and technology transfer.
He paid a courtesy call to Kenya’s High Commissioner to India, H.E. Peter Maina Munyiri, and met with India’s Defence Secretary and Chief of the Army Staff to advance the “BAHARI” joint maritime vision.”
By Anthony Solly
