Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula on Thursday, November 28, 2024, revealed plans to borrow ideas from Switzerland on how to manage Nairobi.
In a statement, Wetang’ula revealed that he had put together a team of parliamentary lawyers to draft the legal framework adopted from Switzerland which would be essential in helping manage Kenya’s capital city.
The speaker made the revelation during a meeting with the Swiss Ambassador to Kenya Mirko Giulietti at the Parliament Buildings on Thursday, November 28, 2024.
According to research by Science Direct, Swiss municipalities, as public bodies appointed by the public law of the cantons, are largely autonomous.
The municipalities are responsible for major reforms in the European country.
Besides being autonomous, the municipalities generate an average of 70 per cent of their income through their taxes and fees. The monetary transfers from the state to the municipalities are lower in Switzerland than in any other European country.
However, in Kenya, most counties depend on government revenue to sustain their operations.
Nonetheless, Wetang’ula did not delve deeper into the details of elements Kenya is looking forward to borrowing from Switzerland to improve the city’s management.
Other areas of discussion
Besides the city’s management, the talks between Wetang’ula and Swiss Ambassador to Kenya Mirko Giulietti were centred around how to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two nations, boosting free trade and how to deepen interparliamentary relations.
Further, Wetang’ula lauded the European country on its stance regarding various global matters.
“I commended Switzerland for its admirable neutrality in the conflict that bedevilled Europe, noting that the move made her the best choice to be the centre of international activities,” Wetang’ula’s statement added.
Kenya and Switzerland enjoy unique similarities of being mini capitals for several Missions in the world.
— Rt.Hon.Dr.Moses Wetang'ula (@HonWetangula) November 28, 2024
Today I hosted the Swiss Ambassador to Kenya, H.E Mirko Giulietti, who paid me a courtesy call in my office at Parliament Buildings.
Our engagement focused on how to… pic.twitter.com/DnFbd31pFt
