Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Uhuru Kenyatta seeks support for regional security at UN meeting


President Uhuru Kenyatta with British Prime
President Uhuru Kenyatta with British Prime Minister David Cameron. The two leaders held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 28, 2015. PHOTO | PSCU 

In Summary
By PSCU
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NEW YORK
President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on the international community to do more to support regional efforts to stop the conflicts in Somalia, South Sudan and other countries in Africa.
The President made the call when he gave a speech at the 70th United Nations General Assembly's annual debate in New York on Monday evening.
President Kenyatta’s speech focused on Kenya’s determination to continue playing its role in fostering stability in the region as well as enhancing its international responsibility in improving global cooperation for the improvement of humanity.
He urged world leaders to take more concrete steps to support the restoration of stability in Somalia and South Sudan as well as other countries in turmoil.
He stressed that Kenya would remain steadfast in fostering peace and security in the region.
“Kenya remains committed to continuing to play its rightful role in the global community and will remain an anchor of peace and security in our region and foster regional, continental and global cooperation for accelerated economic and social development for all,” said the President.
INSTABILITY
The President made a passionate appeal to the UN and its member states not to turn their back on nations faced with long-running conflicts.
He further called for global support for Kenya’s fight against terrorism waged by extremists over the country’s role in supporting stability in Somalia.
President Kenyatta said Kenya continues to invest billions of shillings in maintaining regional peace and security.
“Kenya therefore implores the global community, in particular the United Nations Security Council, to shoulder its responsibility in a manner that has a direct impact (on) the resolution of those conflicts,” he said.
President Kenyatta said Kenya would not abandon Somalia for many reasons including the fact that instability in the neighbouring country continues to affect Kenya.
He said the links between the two nations demand that Kenya take the lead in ensuring a stable Somalia for the benefit of the people of both countries.
He said the Kenya Defence Forces would not stop supporting the Somalia National Army within the framework of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).
“Kenya therefore calls on the international community to support the government of Somalia in securing its territory,” he said.
He said Kenya is concerned about the emerging crisis in South Sudan and welcomed the peace agreement recently signed to end the conflict.
“Kenya urges the international community, especially the United Nations, to support the Igad-Plus Peace Initiative’s efforts geared towards the realisation of comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in South Sudan,” he said.
SUMMIT
President Kenyatta also used his speech to the UN General Assembly to express Kenya’s appreciation for the role it was given to guide the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted in a special summit on September 25.
“Kenya was honoured and proud for the important role it played in the Post-2015 Development Agenda process, by co-chairing the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and by facilitating the inter-governmental negotiations,” he said.
President Kenyatta also tipped developing nations to put emphasis on mobilising domestic resources as well as private business finance, both domestic and international, as an assured way to attain sustainable development.
He added that overseas development assistance still has a big role to play in attaining sustainable development.
“However, domestic resource mobilisation remains key in raising required resources to finance development,” said the President.

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