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Africa needs partnership not patronage, President Kenyatta says

President Kenyatta, who spoke during the second day of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Nairobi Monday, also called for a reformed United Nations to make it more effective/PSCU

President Kenyatta, who spoke during the second day of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Nairobi Monday, also called for a reformed United Nations to make it more effective/PSCU

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 18 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has said African nations need partnership in order for them to achieve their development agenda and not patronage especially from international organisations.

He said multilateral agencies including the United Nation organisations have to work with national governments and local civil societies for them to get solutions to challenges facing the continent.

President Kenyatta, who spoke during the second day of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Nairobi Monday, also called for a reformed United Nations to make it more effective.

He said the UN would be more successful in solving conflicts if it worked through national governments and leaders to resolve disputes arising in respective regions of the globe.

“The UN spends billions of dollars on peace keeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and South Sudan, but after spending all these billions what impact do they have?,” the President asked.

He also urged the international community not to turn its back to globalisation.

He said it is unfortunate that when Africa is now opening up and becoming more transparent and accountable, the rest of the world which has benefitted from globalisation is now retreating.

“Let us move from excuses and blame game to a position where we now should partner. The most amazing thing is that as Africa moves we see the rest of the world retreating,” said President Kenyatta.

He said the developing world is now ready for partnership than ever before considering various political, social and economic reforms undertaken by their governments over the last two decades.

President Kenyatta challenged the UN to institute required reforms so as to make it a more inclusive organisation.

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He said the global community has to translate goals into actual objectives so as to meet the real demands of the people.

President Kenyatta pointed out that Africa nations are now more open and accountable, investing much of their resources in infrastructure and engaging civil society to participate in the development programmes.

“Democracy is deeply entrenched, governments are more open and accountable, civil societies are playing much greater role, Africa today is more open than any time in history,” said President Kenyatta.

Other speakers included Namibian President Hage Geingob, Ugandan Vice President Edward Kiwanuka, Comoros Vice President Djaffar Ahmed Said and UNCTAD Secretary General Mukhisa Kituyi.

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