By SPU
ALGIERS, Algeria, Feb 20 – National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has called for the establishment of direct flights from Kenya to Algeria.
Speaking on Monday during his official visit to Algeria, Wetangula said that the move will enable ease of transacting business in tea, coffee, and fruits sectors from Kenya and boost levels of engagement in trading in oil and petroleum as well as gas from Algeria.
Wetangula spoke during a meeting hosted by his counterpart of the National People’s Assembly, Ibrahim Boughali.
He acknowledged the support accorded to Kenya by Algeria, particularly at the international space and specifically when Kenya was rooting for representation in the UN Security Council.
“Kenya and Algeria have shared history traced from our forefathers who fought for Africa’s liberation, I am glad that we continue to pull together with the aim of lifting the lives of our people,” Wetangula said.
He has said that unity between Kenya and Algeria will go a long way to stabilize Africa by tackling bottlenecks that exist in security, trade, education, health Agriculture among others.
She also expressed gratitude to Boughali for attending the inauguration of President William Ruto when he won the August 9th General Election.
Parliamentary diplomatic engagements between Kenya and Algeria are set to be ignited following the official visit by Speaker Wetang’ula who is accompanied by a section of Members of the National Assembly.
The Members who have accompanied Speaker Wetang’ula include; Nanok Daniel, Marwa Maisori Kitayama, Jack Wamboka, Suleka Hulbale, Zaheer Jhanda, ZamZam Mohammed and Abdi Ali Abdi.
The members will form part of the parliamentary friendship group and are set to meet their counterparts in Algeria to discuss areas of collaboration including exchange programs on various fronts between the two countries.
Wetangula, who was warmly received in Algiers by his counterpart, the President of the National People’s Assembly, Boughali and the President of the Council of the Nation at the Senate, Salah Goudjil, underscored the need for the two countries to cement their bilateral and parliamentary diplomatic engagements to build on the already existing goodwill among the two nations; Kenya and Algeria.
“Africa has come of age to be independent and solve her own problems by using her well-endowed natural resources,” he said.
Wetangula said that there is need to put to proper use the natural resources of the African countries to help build the African economy for greater socio–economic development for Africa.
He further encouraged synergy and collaboration among the two Houses of Parliament in Algeria siting similar working relations in Kenya as both are bi-cameral systems of parliament.
He also called for the enforcement of African free trade to enable the free movement of business commodities across Africa.
On his part, Boughali acknowledged the warm gesture for Speaker Wetang’ula who accepted his invitation to visit Algeria.
He underpinned that parliamentary institutions require strengthening by collaborations and knowledge sharing and commended Kenya for being at the forefront on security matters in the region.
He indicated that his Parliament was open to proposals that could enhance working relationships between the Houses of the two countries.
“I encourage the exchange of expertise among colleagues in our parliaments to be able to share and exchange ideas on different development agendas to be able to build the African Economy,” Boughali.
He added that he was delighted to receive the Kenyan delegation which he said was an indication of sustainable engagements among the two countries.
Acknowledging that he served as a senator before he became the Speaker of the National Assembly,
On the other hand, the President of the Council of the Nation at the Senate, Mr. Salah Goudjil said that Kenya is a Sister country to Algeria and that he was honored to host the Kenya delegation led by Speaker Wetang’ula.
He commended Kenya for her resilience in building her economy and noted that the meeting was important as it came right after the African Union Summit which highlighted important economic matters for Africa.
“Our bilateral engagements exist and just need to be actively revived by strengthening and reinforcing treaties that exist among the two countries,” Mr. Salah Goudjil.
He acknowledged that having an active Parliamentary group will help link the two nations on various collaborations encouraging the use of the Pan African Parliament to cement the relations of African countries.
Others in the meetings include PS Cabinet Affairs, Julius Korir and the Kenya Ambassador to Algeria H.E Peter Katana Angore.
