CS Ruku applauds Kenya-India Cooperation through ITEC programme

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has praised Kenya's commitment to enhancing technical and economic cooperation with India via the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme. Established 62 years ago, the program has given Kenyan public officers and institutions ample chances for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and skills development, thereby bolstering the effectiveness of various state and public sectors.

"Kenya and India share more than just the waters of the Indian Ocean," Ruku stated, emphasizing the longstanding connections, solidarity, trade, investment, education, culture, and mutual commitment to development between the two nations. He highlighted that ITEC is one of the most practical and enduring manifestations of this friendship.

According to Ruku, Kenya's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) necessitates more than just financial resources to attain its goals. He stressed that knowledge, skills, technology, and a robust public service are equally crucial. Through the ITEC, Kenyan public officers have gained access to Indian expertise, technology, institutions, and professional training.

The beneficiaries have subsequently applied their newfound knowledge in their respective sectors and communities. Ruku noted that the true value of ITEC lies not merely in the training received in India but in how the acquired knowledge is put into practice upon returning home.

"Ideally, the knowledge gained from the ITEC programme is utilized in Kenya, sectors and institutions are strengthened, innovative practices are introduced, services are enhanced, and ultimately, the lives of Kenyan citizens are transformed," he remarked. Looking to the future, Ruku emphasized the importance of equipping young Kenyans with the knowledge and skills demanded by the evolving economy.

He stressed that the ITEC can play a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of Kenyan professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, and public officers.

Dr Adarsh Swaika, the High Commissioner of India to Kenya, echoed Ruku's sentiments during an event at the same venue. Swaika underscored that knowledge sharing is at the core of the India-Kenya partnership. "Knowledge grows when it is shared," he remarked, highlighting the essence behind the inception of the ITEC programme. Established on September 15, 1964, a time when India was grappling with significant development challenges, the program chose to contribute its expertise to other developing countries.

Over six decades, ITEC has trained officials from over 160 countries, with more than 45,000 African participants receiving training in India during the past decade alone. Swaika highlighted that over 3,000 Kenyan professionals have benefited from the program in the last ten years, with Kenya currently receiving more than 400 training slots annually.

Ruku commended India for maintaining the ITEC program for 62 years, expressing the government's keen interest in deepening the partnership and identifying new areas for mutual cooperation.