NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 24, President Mwai Kibaki on Friday assured that Kenya was firmly on the path to achieve comprehensive reforms that would midwife a prosperous and cohesive nation.
The Head of State noted that the Constitutional Review Process was firmly on course and that three major issues of contention had been identified by the Committee of Experts and a harmonized draft would soon be published for public debate.
“With regard to addressing historical injustices, we have established the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission to help foster national healing and reconciliation,” the President said.
President Kibaki made the remarks when he held discussions with United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe who paid him a courtesy call at his Harambee House office.
The President briefed the UN Under-Secretary on the achievements and progress made by the Grand Coalition Government in realization of the national reform agenda.
President Kibaki noted that the Interim Independent Electoral Commission was already in place and had already conducted two parliamentary by-elections and was currently undertaking a national voter registration.
On regional matters, the President appealed to the international community to support the Somalia Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to ensure peace in the war torn country.
“The international community should explore ways of supporting the TFG in halting the activities of the Al-Shabaab Militia which are a threat to the attainment of a stable Somalia,” he noted.
The Head of State asked the international community to fulfill pledges of $214 million in support of the Somalia peace process out which only $47 million have so far been released.
He assured that Kenya remains committed to upholding international norms and United Nations resolution of denying groups that threaten peace, security or stability of Somalia.
Noting that Kenya bears the heaviest brunt of the continued instability, the President termed the piracy off the Somalia coastline a regional security threat as well as a hindrance to international trade.
Kenya currently hosts over 280,000 Somalia refugees with another 10,000 entering the country every month due to the current instability.
The UN under-secretary is visiting the region to discuss peace on security challenges facing the region and sample Kenya’s progress in the reform process.
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