Raila and Indian PM Narendra Modi hold talks on healthcare and trade

Raila Odinga held talks with Indian PM on healthcare and lake victoria trade, (Courtesy)

By: Abdirahman Khalif

NAIROBI—National Super Alliance and opposition leader Raila Odinga on  Tuesday morning met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held talks on trade, and the cooperation between the two countries.

Odinga who is on official visit in India, said they discussed trade relations and hoped the meeting would bolster development in India and Kenya.

“Mama Ida Odinga and I were delighted to be hosted by Modi. Kenya and India have benefited from each other for decades in many sectors and it is our hope that this visit will strengthen development for both our nations,” Raila said on Tuesday.

During his visit to Kenya in 2016, Modi said India will fully finance a cancer hospital in Kenya and partner with the country to improve health systems and access to treatment.

Mr Odinga, who left the country on Friday, also visited Bangalore State to celebrate the legacy of his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and the Kenya-Indian ties that saw many students earn scholarships to study in the Asian nation.

“Kenya and India have benefitted from each other for decades in many sectors and it is our hope that this visit will strengthen development for both our nations,” he said.

Raila has been on a whirlwind of international official visits after his rapprochement with President Uhuru Kenyatta that was epitomised in the March 9 handshake on the steps of Jogoo House, Nairobi.

Recently, he represented the Kenyan Government at the burial of the Winnie Mandela in South Africa besides meeting South Sudan’s Salva Kiir and his deposed Vice President Riek Machar who have since a ceasefire.

He also met Gamini Perera, a Cabinet minister in Sri Lanka, and Senator Tan Sri Dato, the president of the Upper House of Malaysia.