The Germany delegation led by its Ambassador to Kenya, Sebastian Groth has called for the two countries to enhance cooperation in bid to build great partnerships and economic friendship to bolster good ties.
The Ambassador said that there is need to have the two countries partnering in trade, education, tourism, agriculture, security matters and other areas.
Speaking after paying a courtesy call to the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Germany delegation informed the Speaker of their mission to visit various counties including; Nakuru, Kisumu and Narok among others where they intend to find areas in which the two countries can partner.
“Although Kenya and Germany have enjoyed warm and cordial relations, there is need to establish a strategic bilateral framework to strengthen and reap the full benefits of the bilateral relations,” said Wetangula.
Wetangula noted that as a former Foreign Affairs Minister, he spearheaded bilateral engagements of parliaments to parliaments since they play key roles in ensuring countries come up with legislations and policies that are designed and shaped by executive for the good of countries good partnership.
Wetangula observed that Germany was the first country to recognise Kenya after attaining independence and to establish a diplomatic mission in Nairobi in 1963.
“As a country we have gone through a lot of challenges that some have generated from the political instabilities and turbulences but we have managed to soldier on and demonstrate the East African spirit of resilience as manifested in the just concluded hotly contested but peaceful general elections, “said Hon. Wetangula.
Wetangula noted that there was need to explore the tourism sector that has many clients from Germany who frequent the Maasai Mara and other tourist attraction sites across the country.
The German delegation expressed interest in empowering Kenyan youths with life skills in that it helps address the unemployment rates in the country.
“In the last ten years we have built a lot of technical training institutes and vocational centers we are now paying a lot of attention to post high school training other than universities to have skills development so that our youths can have skills to help themselves become self-reliance,” he said.
The Speaker welcomed the youth empowerment programme idea adding that the new government is focusing on credit for youths who can begin their own businesses through the hustler funds that is about to be brought to Parliament in the supplementary budget for deliberation and consideration by the August House.
‘’Kenya is Germany’s most important trading partner in East Africa while Germany ranks top ten of Kenya’s export destinations. It is Kenya’s most important coffee destination for green/raw coffee globally,’’ he said.
The Chairperson of the women parliamentary friendship group, Kordula Schulz noted that the country had made great strides in women parliamentary leadership in both elective and nominated positions.
She indicated that their Parliamentary group would like to further engage with their counterparts in Kenya to foster associations and learn from each other for democratic gain.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Shollei while engaging the delegation said that there had been numerous complaints across the country over the importation of toxic pesticide imported from Germany that has flooded the Kenyan market.
“I will be raising this matter in Parliament since these pesticides have been banned in Europe, Germany and America yet they are being utilised in Kenya,” she said.
She said that apart from the two hundred and sixty-seven toxic pesticides in the country, there are six thousand other pesticides manufactured in Germany which are suitable for use.
Sebastian was accompanied by Members of Parliament drawn from various political parties from Germany.
They included Kordula Schulz, Erwin Ruddel, Manfred Todtenhausen, Steffen Janich and Cornelia Mohring.
Others present were Franca Wolf who works in the administration of Germany Parliament, Kate Adams who was the interpreter and Julia Teyseen a political counsellor at German Embassy.
