By: The Brief reporter
Kenya and Ukraine have resolved to establish a Kenya-Ukraine Parliamentary Group, as the first step towards enhancing their bilateral relations.
This emerged on Monday during a meeting between Kenya’s National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and his Ukrainian counterpart, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada (Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine), Andriy Parubiy.
The two states are set for high level Parliamentary engagements, following an agreement by the respective heads of the two legislatures towards enhanced parliamentary collaboration and sharing of experiences with regard to Parliamentary practices and procedures.
The two leaders further noted that legislatures world over have a crucial role in advancing their respective national interests at the international arena, adding that Legislators hold the highest degree of legitimacy as they represent people from all walks of life.
Parubiy thanked Kenya for her continued stance in recognising the territorial integrity of Ukraine in the international fora, adding that Ukraine regards Kenya as a strategic partner in her bid to earn a foothold in Africa.
Ukraine and Russia have been embroiled in a conflict over the annexation of Crimea region in 2014.
Kenya was among the first African countries to establish bilateral relations with Ukraine soon after their independence in 1991.
Speaker Muturi reiterated that Kenya respects the statutes of international law and the principle of territorial integrity of other nations.
On Parliamentary collaboration, Muturi also noted that the National Assembly of Kenya would be interested in tapping from their unique budget making process and as well as from Ukraine’s progressive taxation regime
” Mr Speaker, I have seen an impressive report of the Members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee who in March 2017, visited the Parliament of Ukraine on a study tour, and I hope that the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning could undertake a similar tour to study your very progressive taxation regime”, Speaker Muturi said.
Muturi is in Ukraine for a four-day official visit since May 12 and is expected to meet Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin.
The Speaker is accompanied by MPs Cynthia Nyamai, Andrew Mwandime, Jane Njiru, Moses Kirima, and the Clerk of the National Assembly, Michael Sialai.
