New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met former Kenya prime minister Raila Amolo Odinga, who is currently in India on a private visit, in the national capital on Sunday.


The two leaders during the meeting discussed issues of mutual interest besides sharing friendly personal relations going back decades.


Prime Minister Modi expressed his happiness at being able to meet Odinga after almost three and half years.


The Prime Minister recollected his multiple interactions with Odinga since 2008 in both India and Kenya, as well as the latter’s support to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2009 and 2012.


Prime Minister Modi expressed his commitment to further strengthening India-Kenya relations.


He also conveyed his best wishes to Odinga, who served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013, for his good health and future endeavours. 


The contemporary ties between maritime neighbours India and Kenya have now evolved into a robust and multi-faceted partnership, marked by regular high-level visits, increasing trade and investment as well as extensive people to people contacts.


The state visit of Prime Minister Modi to Kenya earlier on July 10 and 11, 2016, gave a new impetus to bilateral partnership.


During the visit, Prime Minister Modi and President Uhuru Kenyatta discussed a wide range of bilateral issues.


“Both leaders witnessed signing of seven (MoUs)/agreements in the fields of defence, trade and developmental assistance,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.


Prime Minister Modi during the visit handed over 30 field ambulances for the use of the Kenya Defence Forces.