Kenya, 2011

I take this opportunity to once

again congratulate the President on his election to the

presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth

session. I am confident that his long years of

diplomatic service and experience will be crucial in

steering the work of this session to a complete success.

Allow me to also congratulate His Excellency

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his re-election to a

second term. This demonstrates our collective trust and

confidence in his leadership.

The twenty-first century presents us with new and

complex security challenges arising, among other

things, from a range of political, economic, financial

and environmental factors. This session of the General

Assembly offers opportunities to address the

challenges that we face collectively. Most significant is

the promotion of mediation as a tool for conflict

management and the peaceful settlement of disputes

between and within States.

In that context, the role of regional organizations

in the mediation and resolution of conflicts is of

increasing importance. On the African continent, the

African Union (AU) and regional organizations such as

the East African Community and the Intergovernmental

Authority on Development (IGAD) continue to serve

as significant building blocks in the search for global

peace and security. As the Assembly is aware, IGAD is

at the forefront of efforts to bring peace to Somalia and

the Sudan. I am pleased that Kenya’s role in both cases

has been, and remains, crucial.

On 9 July, we witnessed the birth of a new nation,

South Sudan. I wish to take this opportunity to

congratulate and welcome the Republic of South Sudan

to the community of nations. The independence of

South Sudan and its entry into the United Nations

family is the result of intense negotiations under

IGAD, safeguarded by the AU and the international

community. This success story exemplifies the

potential of regional organizations to resolve complex

and deep-rooted conflicts. I would like to reiterate

Kenya’s continued commitment to engage with both

the Sudan and South Sudan, through IGAD as well as

bilaterally, in their efforts to resolve the outstanding

issues under the just concluded Comprehensive Peace

Agreement. I am confident that the leadership of both

the Sudan and South Sudan will continue to

demonstrate their commitment, courage and resolve in

that effort. We will also maintain active support for the

African Union High-level Implementation Panel on the

Sudan, led by former President Thabo Mbeki.

The recent improvement in the security situation

in Mogadishu gives us great optimism. This has been

achieved through the concerted efforts of the

Transitional Federal Government (TFG), supported by

the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and

the international community. The exit of Al-Shabaab

from Mogadishu provides a unique window of

opportunity for the international community to rally

behind Somalia and consolidate the gains made thus

far. I urge the United Nations and the international

community to seize the moment, support IGAD and

partner with the TFG in the efforts to restore lasting

peace and stability to Somalia.

As a first step, I call upon the international

community to enhance the mandate of AMISOM by

providing it with the necessary enablers and resources.

Only then can AMISOM have the required capacity to

extend its coverage and control. In addition, we must

support the TFG in the implementation of the Kampala

Accord, which spells out a range of political processes

necessary for the attainment of sustainable peace and

development in Somalia.

The complex challenge of climate change

continues to manifest itself in the Horn of Africa. As

the General Assembly is aware, the region is currently

experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. The

drought has resulted in a severe crisis that is affecting

more than 12 million people. The region is now

suffering from increased environmental stress, the loss

of livelihoods and intense competition for scarce

resources. Moreover, the situation has sometimes led to

armed conflict among neighbouring communities. This

reality requires us to enhance the regional capacity for

early warning systems and adequate response

arrangements.

The scale of climate change and environmental

degradation calls for sustained action. In that regard,

Kenya hopes that the seventeenth session of the

Conference of Parties to the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held

in Durban, will deliver on African expectations in the

form of support for adaptation measures. Furthermore,

Kenya believes that the international organizations

working on the environment will be streamlined and

given sufficient support. In that regard, the

transformation of the United Nations Environment

Programme (UNEP) into a specialized United Nations

agency, as recommended by the AU, will be of critical

importance. It is my hope that the Rio Summit

scheduled for next year in Brazil will endorse this

position and upgrade UNEP accordingly.

Finally, I cannot conclude my statement today

without once again restating Kenya’s position on the

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issue of Palestine. Kenya believes in the two-State

solution where the territorial integrity of Palestine

within the 1967 borders is upheld and the peace and

security of Israel are both assured and guaranteed. It is

therefore our hope that Palestine will be welcomed into

the community of nations with full membership in the

United Nations.