Kenya: Annan welcomes peaceful elections, congratulates new President

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed news of the peaceful elections in Kenya and congratulated new President Mwai Kibaki and the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) for their victory.

A statement issued by a UN spokesman in Nairobi said the Secretary-General commended the people of Kenya for their “enthusiastic and orderly participation” in the elections. The UN leader also praised President Daniel arap Moi and the electoral authorities of Kenya for overseeing a well-organized and credible balloting process, as well as the Kenya African National Union (KANU) for accepting the outcome of the voting.

“The Secretary-General reiterates that the United Nations will continue to support the efforts of the new Government and people of Kenya to consolidate the democratic process, improve governance and foster economic development,” the statement said. “He looks forward to working closely with the government in support of its lead role in efforts to facilitate a negotiated settlement of the conflicts in Somalia and Sudan.”