Wetangula Pushes for Deal to Boost Petroleum, Gas Imports

National Assembly (NA) Speaker Moses Wetangula pushed for the establishment of direct flights from Kenya to Algeria in a bid to boost trade between the two countries.

Speaking on Monday, February 20 during a meeting with the National People’s Assembly Ibrahim Boughali, Wetangula explained that the two countries would mutually benefit from the flights.

He noted that it would boost levels of engagement in trading in oil and petroleum, as well as gas from Algeria in exchange for tea, coffee and fruits.

A Kenyan team led by NA Speaker Moses Wetangula meets a contingent of Algerian parliamentarians led by National People’s Assembly, H.E Ibrahim Boughali on February 20, 2023.

“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.

“Africa has come of age to be independent and solve her own problems by using her well-endowed natural resources,” Wetangula remarked.

Boughali welcomed the suggestion by the Speaker and acknowledged parliamentary institutions require strengthening through collaboration and knowledge sharing.

“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,” he stated.

Wetangula advocated for the enforcement of Africa free trade to enable the free movement of business commodities across Africa.

He argued that the removal of all bottlenecks witnessed in trade, security, education, health, and agricultural relations between African countries.

The President of the Council of the Nation at the Senate Salah Goudjil, underscored the importance of cementing bilateral and parliamentary diplomatic engagements to build on the already existing goodwill between the two nations.

“Our bilateral engagements exist and just need to be actively revived by strengthening and reinforcing treaties that exist among the two countries,” Goudjil stated.

Wetangula was accompanied by a team including Cabinet Affairs Principal Secretary Julius Korir, Kenya Ambassador to Algeria Peter Katana Angore and a team of Members of Parliament (MPs).

A team of Kenyan and Algerian parliamentarians in Algeria on February 20, 2023.