Kenya, Switzerland Parliaments to boost ties

By Peter Ochieng

Kenyan and Switzerland Parliamentary leadership are focused on putting mechanisms in place, with a view of fostering and bolstering free trade.

According to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, a delegation of Swiss Parliamentarians will visit Kenya in January to kick start the plans.

He made the remarks when he hosted the Swiss Ambassador to Kenya, Mirko Giulietti who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Parliament Buildings on Thursday.

"Kenya can benefit a lot from market opportunities in Switzerland through the free trade initiative," said Wetang'ula.

The Speaker noted that although the House would be on a long recess during the period, he will mobilize MPs for a meeting with their Swiss counterparts in January.

He stated that Kenya and Switzerland enjoy unique similarities of being mini capitals for several Missions in the world.

“I have put in place a team of parliamentary lawyers to come up with a legal framework borrowed from Switzerland on how to manage Nairobi city,” he informed the new envoy.

The Speaker commended Switzerland for its admirable neutrality in the conflict that bedeviled Europe, noting that the move made her the best choice to be the centre of international activities.

The ambassador said Swiss MPs have scheduled a visit to the Kenyan National Assembly to commence the engagements.

The Swiss ambassador who is only three months in Kenya, thanked the Speaker for the warm welcome, noting that the meeting was important to him as he settles in office.

"I am only three months old in Kenya and this courtesy call is for familiarization purposes and also to seek support of the National Assembly to strengthen the diplomatic relations," he said.

Meanwhile, on behalf of the Speaker Senate Amason Jeffah Kingi, Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi hosted the UNITE/UNITAID Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, when they paid a courtesy call to the Senate of Kenya.

He said the Senate, UNITE Parliamentary networks for global health, UNITAID and UNIAID share a mutual commitment to collaborate with global health partners and governments, to identify health challenges that are slowing progress towards global health goals.