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.