President William Ruto yesterday called for closer relations between Kenya and Spain.

Speaking when he met the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at State House Nairobi, yesterday, Ruto said Kenya is looking forward to learning experiences from Spain and the European Union.

The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand relations in trade, health and education.

“Kenya will be the gateway and we will work together so that Spain can find its way into our continent and we can grow relations on the basis of mutual respect and ensuring we leverage the economic opportunities that come to our market,” said the President.

This is the first visit to Kenya by a leader of Spain since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries about 57 years ago.

Ruto also stated that Kenya welcomes the interest of Spanish companies in tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, water management and renewable energy projects, adding that Kenya is committed to strengthening economic and investment relations with Spain for the benefit of the people.

“The renewal of the current financial protocol will add new funds to the kitty and facilitate the implementation of Kenya’s priority projects by Spanish companies,” he said.

Shared values

He said Sánchez’s visit confirmed there is a scope of relations between the two countries and they agreed on a number of issues that will be instrumental in developing a permanent dialogue building on common principles of shared values.

“You have conveyed your priority for Spain’s foreign policy and we have agreed to develop broad bilateral agenda fostering political economic and cultural cooperation. We commit to strengthen economic and investment relations between our countries and appreciate that bilateral flows have shown a very positive growth trend over the last decade,” said Ruto.

Common market

He also said the region is prepared to boost trade ties using the infrastructure of Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) that Kenya is a signatory to.

The President stated that Spain can also leverage on the advantage it gets out of Kenya, which is a champion not just for EAC but also for the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“As a region especially, EAC we are all systems go in ensuring we build this region both as a common market and also progressing towards a federation,” Ruto stated.

“You have walked this journey ahead of us and we will look forward to learning from you on how to consolidate our market and to take it to the level of a confederation because we are very strong believers that the future is that of cooperation, working together and building a common market not just as EA unity but also the continent,” he added.

Sánchez said Africa is a priority for Spain’s foreign policy, adding that they will continue building on good relations between Kenya and Spain.

“We have agreed to develop a broad bilateral agenda, fostering political, economic and cultural cooperation,” he said.

“I am honoured to be the first Spanish Prime Minister to visit Kenya. We are looking forward to your visit to Spain as we strengthen our cooperation in many fields,” Sánchez said.

During the address, Sánchez mistakenly referred to Ruto as “President of Senegal” but was corrected by the Kenyan leader, amid laughter.

“I’m very honoured to be one of the international leaders visiting you as the President of Senegal, and really looking forward to working with you and your ministers…” said Sánchez.