Nairobi, June 11, 2021: In yet another step to solidify ties between Kenya and Somaliland, members of parliament from the two countries inaugurated a caucus that will focus on socio-political and trade between the nations.
In a conference held at the Serena Hotel, Nairobi Somaliland acting Foreign Minister Liban Yusuf and Hon Sophia Abdi Noor, the MP for Ijara constituency and the chairperson of the caucus signed the communique during the official inauguration of the Kenya-Somaliland Parliamentary Caucus.
Noor took the opportunity to congratulate Somaliland for the peaceful, credible and transparent elections held on May 31 and invited the newly elected parliamentarians into the caucus.
“Somaliland has shown the world that it is truly a democratic country by holding very transparent elections on May 31,” said Sophia Noor.
Said Sophia Noor: “Parliament plays an important role in complementing the executive by undertaking Parliamentary diplomacy. To this end, a number of Kenyan Members of Parliament have visited Somaliland and vice-versa in order to strengthen and complement our cooperation. The Kenya – Somaliland Parliamentary Caucus which brings Parliamentarians from the two countries is aimed at undertaking Parliamentary Diplomacy on both sides to complement government efforts and to facilitate easing and removal of any bureaucratic bottle-necks on either side and to expand cooperation.”
She said members of the caucus from Kenya will continue working closely with the Somaliland Liaison office in Nairobi to make the caucus vibrant.
The caucus is a follow-up to the meeting between Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta and Somaliland leader Musa Bihi in December where they signed a joint communique to strengthen the relations between the two countries.
Kenya MPs said they will push the government to hasten the implementation of the agreements in the communique signed between Kenyatta and Bihi.
Members of the caucus appreciated the long-standing historical ties of friendship accentuated by shared colonial history which made the two countries to share common legal, administrative and legislative systems as well as a common currency.
“Our two countries also share the important bond of people – to People ties as we have thousands of our own Kenya citizens who are of Somaliland ancestry. Meanwhile, over ten thousand Kenyans live and work in Somaliland in the different sectors of the economy. In addition, the balance of trade between our two countries which is largely in Kenya’s favour is growing because Somaliland is currently a virtual net importer of nearly everything used and consumed in the country,” members of the caucus said.
They further said Somaliland and Kenya are strong allies in regional geo-political dynamics.
Minister Liban appreciated the continued support Kenyan MPs have accorded Somaliland over the years adding that the caucus will strengthen the relationship between the legislators between the two countries.
“This caucus will play a big role in strengthening the relationship between our two great countries,” Liban said.
In attendance during the inauguration were members of the Caucus from both countries as well as other key policy elites, key captains of industry and audiences at both National and County governments.
