NAIROBI, September 10 – President Mwai Kibaki has urged the international community to intervene to avert further degeneration of the current situation in Somalia.
He called for the fulfillment of pledges made to provide necessary resources to secure peace in the war ravaged country since the transitional government was undergoing challenges, which required the deployment of international peacekeepers to restore peace in the Horn of Africa nation.
“Indeed, the recent developments in that country will require a new impetus in bringing all the parties in the conflict to a process of dialogue that will guarantee the people of Somalia peace and security that they so much desire,” the President said at the opening of the Association of Military Christian Fellowship Africa Golden Jubilee Conference at Nairobi’s Safari Park Hotel on Wednesday.
He reiterated Kenya’s commitment to the vital role the military plays through peacekeeping missions that have enabled many countries in the world return to peace after lengthy periods of conflict.
President Kibaki said: “Kenya is a great believer that the military can play a big role through peace keeping programmes that have seen many countries return to peace after years of conflict. It is for this reason that Kenya continues to play its role by contributing troops to peacekeeping missions around the world in the last twenty years.”
The Head of State urged participants at the conference to deliberate on the contribution of militaries in the entrenchment of peace around the world.
President Kibaki also pledged his government’s commitment towards promoting activities that would help achieve regional, continental and international peace.
“Today the people of Southern Sudan are engaged with the Khartoum government because of the comprehensive peace process that Kenya helped to broker. Kenya was also at the forefront in brokering a peace treaty for Somalia leading to the establishment of a transitional government based in Mogadishu,” the President said.
He also noted that Kenya was not only dealing with challenges to peace and security at the regional level but also at the national level.
The Head of State pointed out that the government was at the forefront in promoting an all-inclusive democracy by establishing the grand coalition government that brought together various political parties after the post-election challenges that afflicted the country at the start of the year.
“Indeed, following the challenges that we faced early this year, we established a grand coalition government that brings together various political parties in our country. This arrangement has enabled us to have in place an all-inclusive government that is working for the Kenyan people,” observed President Kibaki.
He noted that the military embraces core Christian values and should always strive to become persons of exemplary integrity.
President Kibaki commended the conference’s theme “You are the salt of the world” which he termed as one the greatest teachings to mankind urging them to serve as good example to others at all times.
He challenged the military participants to apply the teachings of Jesus Christ and make their contribution to the furtherance of social justice, economic empowerment and provision of safe neighbourhoods.
In his welcoming remarks, the Chief of General Staff General Jeremiah Kianga challenged military personnel to make responsible decisions and stand by what is right in the course of duty.
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