Kenya, Hungary ink bilateral pacts to boost cooperation

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – Kenya and Hungary on Monday signed four key bilateral ties in diplomacy, water, health, and education as Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta met his Hungarian counterpart Janos Ader on Monday.

The agreement between Kenya and Hungary on health, signed at the State House in the capital Nairobi, includes partnerships in human resource capacity-building, information-sharing, and prevention of diseases including COVID-19 management.

As for education, Hungary said that it will double scholarships offered to Kenyan students from the current 100 to 200 annually.

On water, the agreement covers wastewater management among other issues and as for diplomacy, Kenya and Hungary signed a memorandum of understanding on diplomatic training and information exchange that will see the two countries collaborate in the training of diplomats.

Shortly after the signing, Ader was accorded an elaborate state reception that included inspection of an honor guard mounted by a detachment of the Kenyan Air Force and also received a 21-gun salute.

At a joint press conference by the two leaders, Kenyatta thanked the people of Hungary for their friendship, hailing them as one of Kenya’s strongest bilateral partners in Europe, adding that it was the sixth country to set up a diplomatic presence in Nairobi after independence was declared in 1963.

“We thank you and your administration for the kind gesture which will not only help strengthen our people-to-people collaboration but also enhance our two countries cooperation within the wider Kenya-European Union partnership,” Kenyatta said.

Speaking through a translator, Ader said: “I would like to express my gratitude to the president for this cordial warm welcome and I wish you personally and all the people of Kenya a lot of success in your endeavors to overcome this ravaging pandemic”.

Kenya has also urged Hungary to help unlock an outstanding economic partnership agreement between the East African Community (EAC) and the European Union.