"PM Modi and Raila have been friends for a long time," Paul remarked in response to a question about Ayurveda in the context of Odinga's private visit to India and India-Kenya collaboration in the healthcare sector. They've known each other for a long time. Today, India's Prime Minister and Kenya's previous Prime Minister met for a courtesy meeting. What we do know is that they expressed a desire to develop relations between the two countries further."

 

PM Modi expressed his delight at finally meeting Odinga after nearly three and a half years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled his several contacts with Odinga in India and Kenya since 2008, including the latter's support for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2009 and 2012.

 

The two leaders also discussed other issues of mutual interest. The Prime Minister expressed his commitment to further strengthening India-Kenya relations.

 

PM Modi also conveyed his best wishes to Odinga for his good health and future endeavours.

 

"I am honoured to receive my friend, former Kenyan Prime Minister H.E. Raila Amolo Odinga." I recall my previous contacts with him in India and Kenya with fondness. "India and Kenya have excellent bilateral relations, and we look forward to further deepening our ties," PM Modi tweeted.

 

The former Kenyan Prime Minister was in India for his daughter's eye treatment. "Odinga did indicate that his daughter's eye condition had much improved. "Thanks to India's Ayurvedic therapy," the Indian High Commissioner added.

 

After treatment at an Ayurvedic hospital in Kerala, his daughter was able to regain her vision. Odinga also discussed with PM Modi the possibility of establishing a branch of the same hospital in Kenya to better serve the people of his country.

 

He also expressed gratitude to Kerala's Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre for restoring his daughter's vision. Rosemary Odinga, Odinga's daughter, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2017. In Nairobi, she had had surgery. But in the post-operative period, Rosemary complained of severe loss of eyesight.

 

"He also indicated in his interview with ANI that he talked to PM Modi about introducing that kind of medicine — Ayurvedic treatment — to Kenya. "In Kenya's healthcare system, indigenous locally available plants should be used more frequently," Paul remarked.

 

The Indian High Commissioner also emphasised the traditionally strong relationship between India and Kenya.

 

"We've worked together for a long time, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's possible that India was the first country to provide COVID vaccines to Kenya," he said.

 

"We are pleased that India was involved in launching the vaccine campaign in Kenya. We also participated in the training of Kenyan specialists in COVID-19, and we supplied information about Cowin, an Indian-developed digital platform for managing large-scale COVID immunisation and campaigns," he added.