By Dennis Gichuiri
The High Commission of India in Nairobi on Saturday celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day with a colourful ceremony attended by more than 1,200 members of the Indian diaspora and Friends of India.
The celebrations, held at India House on August 15, 2026, began with High Commissioner Dr. Adarsh Swaika unfurling the Indian national flag, followed by the singing of the national anthem.
Dr. Swaika thereafter read excerpts from the address delivered by the President of India to the nation on the eve of Independence Day.
In the address, the President said India was advancing towards its goal of becoming a developed nation, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047, when the country will mark 100 years of independence.
The President emphasised the principle of Antyodaya, stressing the need to ensure that the benefits of development reach every citizen. She also highlighted India’s rapid and inclusive development, expansion of modern infrastructure, digital transformation, economic growth, women-led development and its growing role as a voice of the Global South.
In his remarks, Dr. Swaika highlighted India’s progress since independence and urged members of the diaspora to contribute to the national aspiration of building Viksit Bharat@2047.
He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address from the Red Fort, highlighting the vision of “Shakti Ki Saptadhara”, a seven-pronged framework aimed at strengthening India’s journey towards self-reliance and developed-nation status.
The seven areas include manufacturing; agriculture, food production and processing; technology and innovation; modern connectivity and infrastructure under Gati Shakti; defence preparedness and national security under Raksha Shakti; the green and blue economies; and India’s soft power, including yoga, Ayurveda, culture, tourism, cinema, creative industries and digital content.
On Kenya-India relations, the High Commissioner described Kenya as one of India’s foremost partners in Africa.
He pointed to growing bilateral ties driven by high-level visits, institutional cooperation, trade and investment, development partnerships and increasing cultural exchanges between the two countries.
The Nairobi celebrations also formed part of Surya Path Tiranga, a global digital relay under the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. The initiative traces the journey of India’s national flag across different time zones as Indian missions around the world join the relay from east to west.
A major highlight of the celebrations was the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, India’s National Song.
Community artists performed a rendition of the patriotic song before the gathering joined in a mass singing session. An exhibition dedicated to Vande Mataram was also mounted at the venue, showcasing its history, legacy and significance in India’s freedom struggle and national consciousness.
The event further showcased India’s cultural diversity through performances by members of the Indian community in Kenya.
The programme featured a band performance by Kalakshetra Kenya, a patriotic fusion dance by the Nairobi Women’s Group, a Bastar folk dance by Dhoom Macha Le Group, a patriotic dance by Rangeela Group, Bharatanatyam by Anushiva Group and patriotic musical performances by the Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple Band.
Dr. Swaika also presented awards to winners of four competitions organised to promote knowledge of India and encourage creative engagement with the country’s heritage, development journey and future aspirations.
The competitions included the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz, My India Story Competition, India Through My Lens Photography Competition and Viksit Bharat@2047 Painting Competition.
Winning entries were displayed at India House, giving participants an opportunity to showcase their creativity, experiences and perspectives on India.
The celebrations concluded with refreshments featuring a wide selection of Indian delicacies served at live food counters.
The large turnout by members of the Indian diaspora and Friends of India underscored the strong community ties between the two countries and the enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Kenya.
As part of the Independence Day commemorations, Dr. Swaika also laid a wreath at the Nairobi South Cemetery in honour of Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the First World War.
