Kenya on path to full recovery after post-election violence, UN debate hears

Kenya is making important progress towards reaching consensus on the legal, constitutional and other reforms necessary to avoid a repeat of the deadly post-election violence that swept the country at the start of this year, President Mwai Kibaki told the General Assembly today.

Speaking before world leaders gathered for the annual high-level debate, Mr. Kibaki said the Government in Nairobi had made use of the “historic window of opportunity” offered by the national reconciliation accord struck in late February, which ended two months of violence, “to address the major challenges facing our nation.

“We are, for instance, making good progress towards implementing far-reaching legal, constitutional and policy reforms that will entrench national cohesion and meet the political, economic and social aspirations of our people,” he said.

“I am confident that over the past few months, Kenya has regained its glory and redeemed its image as a peaceful nation, a safe tourist and investment destination, and as the regional hub for peace and humanitarian efforts.”

Thousands of Kenyans had to flee their homes during the clashes, leading United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to offer humanitarian assistance to those in need.

In his speech Mr. Kibaki paid tribute to the work of the members of the Panel of Eminent African Personalities, led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to broker a solution to the crisis, as well as to the UN itself.

The President noted that Kenya’s experience this year illustrated that “the challenge of attaining democratic and inclusive elected governments is at the core of prevailing conflicts and insecurity in many parts of Africa.”

Many African democracies, he added, are fragile and already divided by racial, religious or ethnic differences that can be exacerbated during competitive electoral processes.