Kenya, 2012

It is an honour and a pleasure

for me to once again address the General Assembly.

Kenya is at a time in its history that is full of hope

for a bright future. Over the past 10 years, our country

has enjoyed a sustained blossoming of democracy.

In the year 2010, Kenya adopted a new Constitution.

With that constitution, we further secured the human

rights and civil liberties of our citizens and entrenched

constitutional governance and justice.

Equally important, over the past 10 years, we have

scored significant victories against diseases including

HIV and AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other

childhood and adult maladies. Hundreds of thousands

more children have found their way into school and

many more adults have found new life skills through

training and capacity-building. We have also pulled

hundreds of thousands of Kenyans out of poverty and

put them on the pathway to economic independence

and self-reliance. In doing so, we have also expanded

our economic base, opening up new and extensive

infrastructure, energy and information technology

projects.

The achievements in our country have been

attained through respect for the rule of law, sound

policies, improved governance and open and innovative

democracy. However, as all Kenyans recognize,

we still have a lot more work to do. Poverty, disease

and unemployment still remain big challenges for

us. Nevertheless, I am confident that we will seize

opportunities to innovate and invest, and thus keep our

country on the road to even greater prosperity.

In accordance with this year’s theme, “Bringing

about adjustment or settlement of international disputes

or situations by peaceful means”, Kenya’s achievements

over the past 10 years have been built on the bedrock

of the peaceful resolution of disputes and situations in

our country. In addition, it is our belief that inclusive

solutions to disputes can bring about lasting peace. We

know from our own history and that of our neighbours

that when conflicts and disagreements are not resolved

peacefully what follows are the tragic consequences of

suffering, bloodshed and the collapse of economic and

social development.

That is why we are convinced that Kenya’s own

well-being and prosperity are hinged on sustained

peace, security, stability and inclusive democracy in

our region. My country therefore remains supportive

of efforts spearheaded by the African Union, the

Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the

International Conference on the Great Lakes Region

and the East African Community for the peaceful and

inclusive settlement of disputes and situations. Such

regional efforts are central to the future of multilateral

peacebuilding. They must be the building blocks of

international efforts to maintain peace and security in

our region and the world.

Kenya therefore welcomes the Secretary-General’s

initiative to convene a series of high-level meetings

during this week to discuss the political and security

situations in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the

Congo, the Sudan and South Sudan. With regard to

Somalia, Kenya joined the African Union Mission in

Somalia (AMISOM), and through the combined efforts

of AMISOM and Transitional Federal Government

forces, we have witnessed the progressive liberation of

large areas of Somalia from Al-Shabaab occupation.

That development enabled the Transitional Government

to focus on the implementation of the Kampala Accord

road map, with a view to forming a unified Government

anchored on the pillars of good governance and the rule

of law. We are encouraged by recent developments in Somalia, in particular the election of a new President,

Prime Minister and Parliament and the adoption of a

new Constitution.

There are millions of Somalis who are forced to live

outside Somalia. More than 650,000 are in one refugee

camp in Kenya. Following the liberation of large

sections of south-central Somalia from Al-Shabaab,

we look forward to working with the relevant United

Nations agencies and the international community

in facilitating the return of Somali refugees to those

areas. That will enable the effective participation of all

Somalis in rebuilding Somalia.

With regard to the Republic of the Sudan and the

Republic of South Sudan, Kenya is appreciative of

the positive developments of 4 August related to the

long-standing dispute over oil resources. We hope that

that important agreement marks a first step towards

reducing tensions between the two sister countries.

Kenya also appreciates the efforts of the international

community, both directly and through the African

Union, and encourages the two sides to work towards

reaching a compromise. I especially commend the

African Union High-level Implementation Panel

for its determination and leadership in steering the

negotiations. We are confident that both countries will

agree to urgently address contentious issues on border

disputes. Kenya will continue to support efforts to find

a peaceful and lasting solution to disputes between the

people of the Sudan and South Sudan. We encourage

the international community to redouble its efforts to

fast-track support for social and economic development

in South Sudan for the benefit of citizens of the new

country.

Kenyans are saddened by the great suffering and

bloodshed endured by populations around the world,

especially in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and

Central Africa. It is our belief that nations should

embrace dialogue and the peaceful settlement of

disputes instead of rushing to arms, for suffering and

bloodshed will ensue. We call upon all warring parties

in the world to lay down their arms and pursue the

path of peace, dialogue and the inclusive resolution of

disputes.

We also remain concerned that no progress has

been achieved on the issue of Palestine. As I said last

year here in the General Assembly, Kenya believes in

the two-State solution, in which the territorial integrity

of Palestine within the 1967 borders is upheld and the peace and security of Israel are both assured and

guaranteed. In that regard, it is our hope that Palestine

will soon be welcomed into the community of nations

with full membership in the United Nations.

There can be no lasting peace without sustainable

and inclusive development. Kenya therefore greatly

appreciates the achievements of the United Nations

Conference on Sustainable Development held earlier

this year in Brazil. Kenya is encouraged that, in line

with recommendations proposed during the Conference,

the General Assembly has placed high on its agenda for

this session some of the decisions we took in Rio de

Janeiro. That is indeed an indication of our collective

political will to ensure that the decisions contained in

the outcome document are implemented.

Key among those is the decision to strengthen the

institutional framework for sustainable development,

including the upgrading of the United Nations

Environment Programme (UNEP). Kenya appreciates

that historic decision to strengthen and upgrade UNEP,

which will enable it to fulfil its mandate effectively.

Kenya reiterates its commitment to continue to host

and facilitate the work of a revamped UNEP, and we

look forward to its eventual transformation into a full-

fledged organization for the global environment.

Finally, we are all aware that many of our modern

disputes and conflicts revolve around concerns about

water, available land and agriculture, forests, rivers

and lakes. Dealing with our environment and the

effects of climate change is therefore an important part

of resolving disputes and conflicts around the world.

Strengthening global institutions that deal with the

environment, biodiversity and climate change must

therefore be a core part of our strategy to avoid conflict

and disputes among the peoples of the world.

It is important that, as the community of nations,

we invest in the peaceful settlement of international

disputes. However, we must invest first in the prevention

of disputes and, secondly, in addressing the root causes

of conflicts, such as poverty, inequality, disregard

for international law and disrespect for each other’s

sociocultural and religious beliefs, among others. Only

by addressing the root causes of conflict and disputes

can we hope to find lasting peace in a just and equitable

world.