Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has said there is a need for Kenya and Hungary's parliaments to work together to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Kingi further hailed the Hungarian government for the intervention it has made in Kenya in areas of education, health, water and Agriculture.
At a meeting with Hungarian Speaker Laszlo Kover, the Speaker noted that the two countries have a long relationship that should be taken a notch higher through a relationship between their Parliaments.
"We as the Senate feels honoured by your presence. This visit should deepen bilateral relations between our two countries," Speaker Kingi said.
He told Kover that the time has come for the two Parliaments to develop an exchange programme that will allow the two countries to learn from each other.
Through the bilateral relations between the countries, Hungary issues 200 scholarships to Kenyan students every year.
It has also supported health projects in Nyeri County and water and agriculture in Bungoma and Kisumu counties.
"We don't take for granted this gesture," the Speaker told his counterpart adding that it has helped improve the welfare of Kenyan people.
"Beyond parliamentary diplomacy, we really appreciate the many interventions you have done to assist our people."
Kover, who is the first Speaker of the Hungarian parliament to visit Kenya, said Kenya is a highly strategic partner and challenged Kenyan MPs to work towards broadening the cooperation between the two sides.
"Both of us are confronted with huge challenges of our own," he explained, citing climate change as one area the two countries must give special focus.
"Our cooperation will make our individual contribution to make resolution of our own problems."
He described Speaker Kingi's call for an exchange programme as fashionable which will facilitate learning between the two sides.
Senators who attended the meeting were Tabitha Mutinda (nominated) and Esther Ekenyuri (nominated).
Also present was Gilgil MP Martha Wangari.
Kover toured Parliament to understand the place of the Senate in legislation.
