Kenya courts Jordan’s support for UNSC seat

The Jordanian Speaker of the House of Representatives with Speaker Muturi after the two met at the Parliament Building in Amman, Jordan, yesterday. [Courtesy]

The National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi yesterday met the Jordan foreign affairs minister to seek support for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seat.

Muturi’s delegation met Jordan Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi on his second day of high-level engagements with Jordanian top government officials.

"Kenya plays a key role in the promotion of peace and security within the auspices of the African Union. It is on this premise that we are bidding for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council so as to further this agenda. We are therefore seeking the support of our allies and close friends like Jordan on this bid", Muturi said.

During the bilateral meeting, Speaker Muturi reiterated Kenya's commitment to realise the special status that President Uhuru Kenyatta and King Abdullah II of Jordan have embarked on.

Safadi expressed confidence that the remaining elements of the Special Status Agreement would be fast-tracked, especially given his amicable relations with Kenya's top envoy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Monica Juma.

Fasadi also informed the Speaker that Jordan attaches a lot of importance to the process of Parliamentary collaboration that has just been established.

The two countries are now expected to forge ahead with the formation of the Kenya-Jordan Parliamentary Friendship group.

Kenyan delegation later met with the Minister for Political and Parliamentary Affairs, Mousa Masytah.

Mousa took the opportunity to enlighten them of Jordan's political system and its structures.

The delegation winds up its three-day visit tomorrow.