Kenya, 2010

The theme of the sixty-fifth

session of the General Assembly, “Reaffirming the

central role of the United Nations in global

governance”, is appropriate and timely. Today’s

transnational challenges, including issues of peace and

security, development, human rights, the environment

and health require genuine global governance that

encompasses all United Nations Member States.

In this regard, Kenya fully reaffirms the central

role of the United Nations in global governance,

consistent with its Charter and international law. It is,

therefore, imperative that the ongoing United Nations

reforms be accelerated in order to ensure that this

institution of multilateral engagement is representative

and transparent, is accountable to its 192 members and

optimally achieves the aspirations of today’s world.

When I last addressed the General Assembly two

years ago, I briefed this august body on the major steps

taken by my country to resolve the political difficulties

following our general elections in December 2007.

Since then, we have made tremendous progress in

implementing far-reaching reforms that will entrench

democracy and secure our peace and stability. Top on

the reform agenda has been the enactment of a new

constitution, which was promulgated on 27 August

2010 following a successful national referendum.

The new Constitution greatly improves the

structures of governance and lays a firm foundation for

political stability and economic prosperity. It has

created new vitality and a sense of renewal. We believe

that this step will go a long way in contributing

towards the pursuit of the Millennium Development

Goals. It is also our hope that this historic development

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will contribute to the continued consolidation of

democratic governance in our region.

Ten years ago, world leaders meeting here in New

York committed themselves to pursue the Millennium

Development Goals in response to the world’s main

development challenges of poverty, ignorance and ill-

health. Two thirds of the time allotted for the

attainment of these Goals has lapsed. With only five

years left to the targeted year 2015, the urgency of

bridging the remaining gap is a reality we must now

confront.

As I indicated in my statement to this Assembly

three years ago, Kenya has invested significant

resources in the pursuit of the Millennium

Development Goals. We have recorded substantial

progress in poverty reduction and education, in

reducing maternal and child mortality, in the fight

against HIV/AIDS and malaria, and in promoting

gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Climate change continues to hamper our

development aspirations. In recognition of this

challenge, my country has taken major steps to

enhance environmental sustainability, such as

reclaiming and protecting our five major water towers;

undertaking investments in wind, solar and geothermal

energy; and making comprehensive commitments to

green our economy.

Despite these efforts, Kenya is facing many

negative consequences of climate change. Our crop-

and livestock-based agriculture, on which the vast

majority of Kenyans depend, is now at the mercy of

unpredictable weather patterns. It is with a deep

concern, therefore, that we note the international

community’s inability to make headway in the critical

negotiations on climate change. It is Kenya’s hope that

the world will recognize the urgency of concluding

these negotiations in the interest of the survival of

humanity. I look forward to positive outcomes from the

upcoming meetings on climate change in Mexico and

South Africa.

I now wish to turn to one of the major obstacles

to the pursuit of peace and development, including the

attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, in

our subregion, namely, the continuing political

instability in Somalia that is festering beyond that

country.

Since the early 1990s, Kenya has borne the full

weight of insecurity in Somalia. Today, as this

Assembly meets, the security situation in Somalia

continues to deteriorate and threaten peace and

stability across the entire region and beyond. Needless

to say, the threat posed by today’s Somalia to

international peace and security is greater than that of

any other conflict in the region. Yet Somalia continues

to suffer benign neglect from the international

community, leading to many lost opportunities to

resolve the crisis. The perceived reluctance of the

Security Council to engage with Somalia has been a

matter of great concern for those of us who suffer the

worst consequences of the conflict. Today, I wish to

draw the attention of this Assembly to yet another

opportunity that should not be lost.

In July of this year, the Intergovernmental

Authority on Development (IGAD) Summit identified

critical elements of engagement and took a number of

decisions on the way forward. These decisions were

endorsed by the African Union summit in Kampala in

July 2010. Unfortunately, the support needed to

implement these decisions by the international

community has not been forthcoming.

It is against this background that Kenya urges the

United Nations and the entire international community

to seize the opportunity created by the African regional

initiative and lend support to the proposed measures,

which include the appointment of an eminent high-

level personality for Somalia, the effective deployment

of the proposed 2,000 troops, a review of the current

mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia to

enhance its peace enforcement capacity, and the

extension of support to the Transitional Federal

Government to bolster its effectiveness countrywide.

As the Chair of the IGAD Committee on the

Sudan, I have remained actively engaged with the

implementation of the Comprehensive Peace

Agreement (CPA). I have done so because we in the

IGAD region believe that the CPA holds the key to

peace and stability in the Sudan and the region.

I wish to inform this Assembly that I have

received assurances from both President Omer

Al-Bashir and First Vice-President Salva Kiir to remain

on course with respect to the preparations for the

referendum. I am pleased to further inform the

Assembly that both reaffirmed their commitment to

resolve all the outstanding issues, to hold the

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referendum on 9 January 2011, and to accept the

outcome of the vote. We in the region are looking

forward to the holding of a successful and peaceful

referendum that promotes regional peace and stability.

These efforts by the neighbours of the Sudan and

the African Union have created a momentum that is

critical to the full implementation of the CPA. It is

crucial that the world stand in support of these

initiatives as Sudan takes vital steps in relation to its

future governance. I believe that continued engagement

with the leadership of both the National Congress Party

and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement is the

only way towards the peaceful resolution of the

challenges facing the Sudan.

In view of this perspective, I wish to inform this

Assembly that I will convene the second IGAD Special

Summit on the Sudan in November 2010, in order to

take stock of progress, ensure the process remains on

course and support efforts relating to the post-

referendum arrangements.

In conclusion, I wish to express my hope that

through our unity, solidarity, cooperation and

commitment, the challenges facing the international

community will be overcome. Let us rise to the

occasion and demonstrate our political will and ability

to work together for the good of all humankind.