Kenyan and Austrian legislatures are set to establish Parliamentary collaboration geared towards enhancing the already flourishing ties between the Nairobi and Vienna. This was revealed during a meeting between the Members of the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, and a delegation from the Austrian Parliament, who are in the country on official visit.

Led by Mr. Axel Kassegger a Member of the Austrian National Council, and the Austrian Ambassador to Kenya, Dr. Christian Fellner, the visiting delegation said the two countries should pursue deep collaboration in areas of defence, climate change and industry for the mutual benefit of their citizens.

Austria is a Federal Parliamentary Republic in Central Europe, and a member of the European Union. Among key areas of partnership discussed include Military cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy, climate change education and industrialization among others.

"The European Union wants to move fast in taking measures to avoid climate change. Austria is one country that does not use coal or nuclear energy, and we are very actively involved in efforts to cut on fossil fuels consumptions," said Mr. Kassegger.

Committee Chair the Hon. Nelson Koech said Austria can take advantage of Kenya's ranking stature as the peace, security and industrial power hub of the region to pursue broader cooperation with the East-African region.

"We are already actively involved in peace restoration efforts in neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia for the greater good of the region. We welcome all allies on board, including Austria.

His Vice-chair, the Hon. Maj. Rtd. Bashir Abdullah said the Austrian National Council and the Kenyan Parliament should initiate a parliamentary diplomacy model, anchored on a parliamentary friendship to mutually benefit both countries.

"The idea of Political Party academies that you have mentioned is extremely good in nurturing democracy. We can achieve this and a lot more if we initiate a Kenya-Austria Parliamentary Friendship for the larger benefit of our countries," said Hon. Bashir.

Though Parliamentary diplomacy is not intended to either supplant or duplicate traditional governmental diplomacy, it has in modern diplomacy become a crucial tool for enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening democracy, while providing an alternative channel beneficial for bilateral relations between countries.

Also discussed during the meeting was the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war which has occasioned a sharp rise in global fuel prices due to energy supply chain disruption.

On his part, Dr. Fellner lauded Kenya's growing focus on technical, vocational and educational training institutes as a remarkable step towards  accelerating the country's industrialization and growing potential for labour export to the European Market.

Other members who spoke said Austria should tap in Kenya's rich labour market and innovative youth to fill the market gap in the rapidly growing European Union region.

Kenya and Austria have long diplomatic ties dating to 1908, when Austria-Hungary established an Honorary Consulate in Mombasa. It was, however, closed due to the outbreak of World War I in 1914 and reopened in 1971.

Austria was also among the first countries to recognise Kenya’s independence opened its embassy in Nairobi April 1965. Kenya opened an Embassy which also serves as a Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Vienna in 1994. The Mission is also accredited to the Republic of Austria, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Slovania, Croatia and Ukraine. At the multilateral level, it handles matters from the United Nations and other International organisations in Vienna.