Wetang'ula assures support for Russia-Kenya trade plans

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has assured the House's support to the plan by the executive to stimulate trade between Kenya and Russia.

He said Kenya has not benefited a lot from trade with Russia despite the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two nations.

He spoke on Monday when he hosted the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov who paid him a courtesy visit at his offices at the Parliament Building. 

"National Assembly holds the pass to the trade ties for the national government. The House is ready to support efforts by the government to enhance trade with Russia through legislation," Wetang'ula said.

He said the Assembly was committed to ensuring that it enacts laws that make trade between Kenya and foreign countries improved, adding that Russia is among the targets.

"Give us half of what you give to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt or half of what you give to Turkey in terms of trade," he added.

Acknowledging that Russia is a key supporter of the African continent, Wetang'ula however regretted that African leaders were still being treated as spectators during international meetings hosted by foreign countries.

"Russia's support to Africa has made the continent free but it is still worrying that African agenda in international meetings have been forgotten and our leaders are always treated as spectators during such forums," he said. 

On his part, Lavrov appreciated the relationship that has existed between the two countries reiterating Russia's pledge to continue supporting Kenya in various sectors.

He said Russia was ready to enhance trade with Kenya to boost the economy of the country.

Lavrov asked the government to draft a Trade Agreement on how Kenya wants to engage in trade with Russia and have it approved by Parliament for implementation.

He added that Russia was working out on introducing visa-free travel to boost the movement of investors and citizens of the two countries.

"Russia is working on introducing visa-free travel to enable Kenyans easily access our country for either trade, medical services or education among others," he said. 

He noted that Russia had double scholarships for Kenyan students to the country, in an effort to ensure that more Kenyans join universities in Russia.

"Currently three schools in Russia are teaching Swahili," he said.

The Minister said Russia has continued to support humanitarian activities through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Further, the two leaders discussed Kenya's participation in the forthcoming Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum to be held in St Petersburg in July this year.

The Summit aims at providing a new constructive impetus to the development of Russia's multifaceted relations with African countries and bolsters the policy of a comprehend equal partnership with African people.

Present was Russian Ambassador Dmitry Maksimychev.