National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has revealed that the government is set to offer attachment opportunities to Somali parliamentary personnel in the Kenyan Parliament.
In a statement on his official X account on Thursday, June 12, Wetang'ula claimed that the staff will soon be incorporated into various committees within the Kenyan National Assembly for practical, on-the-job learning experiences.
Additionally, the Speaker claimed that the Centre for Parliamentary Studies (CPST) will also facilitate more capacity-building programmes for the staff.
Wetang'ula has further proposed the formation of a Kenya-Somalia Parliamentary "friendship" group that will enable lawmakers from the two countries to have sustainable diplomatic engagements.
"In response to Speaker Madobe’s request, I affirmed Kenya’s readiness to support the capacity building of Somali parliamentary staff through training facilitated by Kenyan institutions such as the CPST and benchmarking programmes," Wetang'ula said.
"To further enhance this initiative, I assured the Ambassador that Somali parliamentary personnel would be attached to various committees within the Kenyan National Assembly for practical, on-the-job learning experiences," he added.
According to Wetang'ula, who revealed this after a meeting with the Somali Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, on Thursday, June 12, these efforts are aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties and cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting, Wetang'ula stressed the need for integrating Somalia into the East African regional bloc, a move he asserted will be critical in catalysing the economic metamorphosis of the region.
"Reiterating my longstanding support for Somalia’s full membership in the East African Community (EAC), I emphasised the importance of Somalia’s integration into the regional bloc to promote collective development and stability across East Africa," he stated.
The announcement comes days after Kenya emphasised its commitment to Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence, in line with international law and regional agreements.
Acknowledging Kenya and Somalia's strong historical and cultural ties, the government assured that these foundations will continue to guide the two nations’ shared aspirations for peace, security, and sustainable development in the region.
"Kenya unequivocally recognises the authority of the Federal Government in Mogadishu as the sole and legitimate body responsible for administering the affairs of Somalia, including those of its regions," read a statement by the State Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday, May 26.