Kenya Vice president HE Hon Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka arrived in Khartoum on Saturday 11th July 2009. He was accompanied by Hon . Gen. (Rtd)Joseph Ngaiser- the Asst. Minister for Defence, Hon. Kabando Wa Kabando the Asst. Minister for Sports, Dr. Ludeki Chweya -the Permanent Secretary Office of the Vice President and Ministry for Home Affairs. The Vice President was in Sudan to attend the clossing ceremony of the CECAFA tounerment in which two Kenyan teams Mathare United FC. and Tusker FC were participating. The Vice President while in the country on 12th July 2009 held meeting with First Vice President and President of the Government of South Sudan HE Salva Kiir Mayardit. In their meeting the two leaders discussed bilateral issues of Kenya and Sudan . They also discussed the progress of the CPA implementation and the preparations for the forth coming Sudan National Elections. Earlier the Vice President held meeting with Presidential Advisor Dr. Ali Nafie Ali at the Palace in Khartoum. They agreed to revitalise the Kenya - Sudan Joint inter-ministrial Committe through which most of the bilateral issues between Kenya and Sudan could be addressed. The Vice president left Sudan for Italy on sunday 12th July 2009.

 Hon. Omingo Magara ( Asst. Min. Trade) Leads Kenyan Delegation to  Khartoum International Trade Fair

The Assistant Minister of Trade Hon. James Omingo Magara led the Kenya delegation to the trade fair. During the visit, Hon. Magara accompanied by the Kenyan Ambassador to the Sudan , H.E. Mr. R.M. Ngesu and officials from the Export Promotion Council (EPC) paid a courtesy call on the Director General of the Sudan Free Trade Zones (SFZs.)

During their talks, the Director General called on Kenya to initiate modalities that will lead to the signing of an MOU between Sudan Free Trade Zones and the EPZ as one way of enhancing trade between the two countries. The Director General further said that such an MOU would facilitate participation of business delegations in trade fairs in Khartoum and Nairobi . In response, the Assistant Minister informed the Director General that Kenya attached great importance to the Trade Fair and would be more active in future. He further informed the Director General that he would lead a trade delegation to the Sudan later in the course of the year.

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY AMBASSADOR ROBERT M. NGESU, AMBASSADOR OF KENYA TO THE SUDAN, TO MARK THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE DAY (JAMHURI DAY) OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, ON 12TH DECEMBER, 2008

 

YOUR EXCELLENCY, HONOURABLE JAMES KOK,
MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE, GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN,
YOUR EXCELLENCIES,
MY FELLOW KENYANS,
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

AL SALAAM ALEIKUM

1. ON THIS DAY 45 YEARS AGO, THE HISTORY OF KENYA AS A BRITISH COLONY AND PROTECTORATE CHANGED FOREVER WHEN THE UNION JACK WAS LOWERED AND THE BLACK, WHITE, RED AND GREEN KENYAN FLAG WAS HOISTED AT INDEPENDENCE SQUARE IN NAIROBI TO SIGNIFY THE BIRTH OF A NEW KENYAN NATION.

2. WE REMEMBER OUR GALLANT COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE. THE DAY IS A PERPETUAL REMINDER THAT ALL KENYANS BOTH AT HOME AND IN THE DIASPORA ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESTINY AND COMMON GOOD OF THEIR MOTHERLAND. ON THIS DAY, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY OUR FRIENDS IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENCE.

3. SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, BOTH KENYA AND SUDAN HAVE CONTINUED TO ENJOY WARM AND CORDIAL RELATIONS.

4. THE TWO COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO CO-OPERATE ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST AND CONCERN BOTH AT THE BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL LEVELS.

5. AT THE BILATERAL LEVEL, THE TWO NEIGHBOURS HAVE ESTABLISHED A JOINT MINISTERIAL COMMISSION (JMC) WHOSE 8TH SESSION WAS HELD IN NAIROBI KENYA. THE 9TH JMC HAS BEEN PROPOSED TO BE HELD IN KHARTOUM SOMETIMES NEXT YEAR.

6. AS A RESULT, THE TWO SISTERLY COUNTRIES HAVE CO-OPERATED ON MATTERS TOUCHING ON AGRICULTURE, AIR SERVICES, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, METEOROLOGY, STANDARDISATION, SECURITY, LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT, REFUGEE MATTERS, SPORTS, EDUCATION, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND PEACE DIPLOMACY.

7. AT THE MULTILATERAL LEVEL, THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE CO-OPERATED ON MATTERS OF CONCERN TO THE REGION AND AFRICA IN GENERAL SUCH AS PEACE AND SECURITY, TRADE, ICT AND TERRORISM.

EXCELLENCIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

8. SINCE INDEPENDENCE, 45 YEARS AGO, KENYA HAS PURSUED A FOREIGN POLICY BASED ON FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE, RESPECT FOR SOVEREIGNITY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, NON-INTERFERENCE IN THE AFFAIRS OF OTHER STATES, RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, RULE OF LAW AND ADHERENCE TO THE UN AND AU CHARTERS.

9. THESE TENETS HAVE ENABLED KENYA TO PURSUE PEACE MEDIATION IN UGANDA, ANGOLA, SUDAN, SOMALIA, MOZAMBIQUE AND THE GREAT LAKES REGION. WE INTEND TO CONTINUE ON THIS PATH.

10. THE SIGNING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT (CPA) IN 2005 IN NAIROBI UNDER THE AUSPICES OF IGAD WAS THUS AS A RESULT OF THESE TIRELESS EFFORTS.

11. WE COMMEND THE SUDANESE PEOPLE FOR THE ACHIEVEMENTS MADE SO FAR IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CPA. WE APPLAUDE THE RESOLVE AND COMMITMENT BY THE TWO PARTNERS TO SOLVE ALL OUTSTANDING ISSUES. AS DEPUTY CHAIR OF THE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION COMMISSION (AEC) OF THE CPA, KENYA IS COMMITTED TO ITS SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION AND PEACE IN THIS GREAT NATION.

12. THE CHARTER ESTABLISHING THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (TFG) OF SOMALIA WAS ALSO SIGNED IN NAIROBI, IN 2004, AFTER 14 FAILED ATTEMPTS. DESPITE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TFG, PEACE CONTINUES TO BE ELUSIVE IN SOMALIA SINCE 1991. KENYA WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OTHER COUNTRIES WITHIN IGAD AND ALSO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PURSUE PEACE IN SOMALIA.

13. EARLY THIS YEAR, KENYA WAS TO FACE AN UNPRECEDENTED POLITICAL CRISIS WHICH THREATENED TO TEAR THE COUNTRY APART. WITH THE HELP OF AFRICAN UNION AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, KENYA WAS ABLE TO PULL THROUGH. A COALITION GOVERNMENT WAS ESTABLISHED AND THE POST OF PRIME MINISTER INTRODUCED.

14. THE AFRICAN UNION LED MEDIATION TEAM PRESIDED OVER BY H.E. KOFI ANNAN, FORMER SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, ESTABLISHED TWO COMMISSIONS WHICH AMONGST OTHERS RECOMMENDED: DISBANDING OF THE KENYA’S ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND ITS REPLACEMENT WITH AN INDEPENDENT ELECTION BODY TO OVERSEE ELECTIONS IN KENYA.

THE SECOND COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRIBUNAL TO TRY SUSPECTS OF POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE. THE CABINET HAS APPROVED THESE RECOMMENDATIONS PAVING WAY FOR THEIR DISCUSSION AND ADOPTION BY PARLIAMENT BEFORE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.

15. OTHER POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REFORMS, INCLUDING A NEW CONSTITUTION WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEXT ONE (1) YEAR.

16. KENYANS WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR THE ROLE PLAYED BY H.E. KOFI ANNAN, H.E. BENJAMIN MKAPA, H.E. MRS. GRACA MACHEL-MANDELA AND PROF. OLUYEMI ADEDEJI IN MEDIATING KENYA’S WORST CRISIS.

EXCELLENCIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

17. WHEN I STOOD ON THIS PODIUM DURING OUR 44TH JAMHURI DAY LAST YEAR, I INFORMED THAT KENYA, IN 2007 HAD ACHIEVED TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC GROWTH RATES OF 7.1 PER CENT. THE GROWTH RATE WAS NO MEAN ACHIEVEMENT AS THE RATE WAS BELOW 0% WHEN THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI TOOK OVER 6 YEARS AGO. THIS YEAR, THE RATE OF GROWTH WAS EXPECTED TO BE 8%, BUT DUE TO ELECTION VIOLENCE EARLY THIS YEAR, THE GROWTH HAS DROPPED TO LESS THAN 5%.

18. THE TIDE CREATED BY THE ABOVE GROWTH HAD REDUCED THE NATIONAL POVERTY LEVELS FROM 56 PER CENT TO 46 PER CENT LIFTING 2 MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY.

19. THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO EDUCATION AS AN INVESTMENT AND A DETERMINANT OF A COUNTRY'S DEVELOPMENT.

20. TO THIS END, THE INTRODUCTION OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED WORLDWIDE AS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT AND FULFILS PART OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs) OF THE UNITED NATIONS. TODAY, MORE THAN 1.7 MILLION CHILDREN WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN AT HOME HAVE GONE TO SCHOOL IN KENYA.

21. THE GOVERNMENT HAS EXTENDED THE POLICY OF FREE EDUCATION TO THE SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL BEGINNING JANUARY THIS YEAR.

22. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO INVESTED HEAVILY IN THE HEALTH SECTOR. ALL CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS ARE TREATED FREE OF CHARGE. MALARIA, TB AND HIV/AIDS TREATMENT IS ALSO FREE. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO WAGED A SUCCESSFUL ANTI-MALARIA WAR BY THE PROVISION OF FREE INSECTICIDE-TREATED NETS TO MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.

EXELLENCIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

23. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO LAUNCHED "VISION 2030" THAT HAS BROADENED THE DRIVERS OF THE ECONOMY TO INCLUDE PROMOTION OF REGIONAL TRADE, MANUFACTURING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES.

24. WE ARE ALSO ENCOURAGING FOREIGN INVESTORS AND PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (PPP) IN INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH WILL CREATE WORLD-CLASS NETWORKS OF AIRPORTS, SEAPORTS, INTRA AFRICAN HIGHWAYS, RAILWAYS AND LOW-COST HOUSING.

25. WE ARE HOWEVER AWARE THAT THE CURRENT GLOBAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN WILL NOT ONLY SLOW DOWN OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH BUT ALSO THE ECONOMIES OF MANY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.

EXCELLENCIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

26. WE ARE PROUD TO MENTION THAT KENYA WON THE 2007 UNITED NATIONS (UN) PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD. THIS AWARD WAS IN RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC SERVICE REFORMS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN EVERY SECTOR OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS. EACH PUBLIC SERVANT MUST SIGN A PERFORMANCE CONTRACT BEGINNING OF EVERY YEAR. THIS HAS IMPROVED TREMEDOUSLY SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE IN KENYA.

EXELLENCIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

27. BEHIND THE ABOVE ACHIEVEMENTS AND REFORMS LIES A COUNTRY OF BREATHTAKING BEAUTY AND MAGIC, WELL ENDOWED WITH NATURAL ATTRACTIONS RANGING FROM PRISTINE BEACHES, ABUNDANT FLORA AND FAUNA, SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS AND CONTINUES TO DRAW AN EVER-GROWING NUMBER OF VISITORS WITH ITS PROMISE OF MAGIC. THEREFORE THOSE OF OUR GUESTS GATHERED HERE TODAY WHO HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS MAGIC SHOULD MAKE A HOLIDAY DATE WITH KENYA, INCLUDING THE VILLAGE IN WESTERN KENYA WHERE THE FATHER OF THE U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT, BARACK OBAMA, WAS BORN.

28. KENYA IS A LAND OF GREAT RUNNERS IN THE WORLD ESPECIALLY LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS. WE ARE PROUD OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS. I SUGGEST YOUR EXCELLENCIES SHOULD CONSIDER A VISIT TO THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY WHERE MOST OF THESE RUNNERS HAIL FROM.

29. BEFORE I END MY ADDRESS, LET ME SAY THAT KENYA WISHES SUDAN SUCCESS AS THE COUNTRY GEARS ITSELF FOR ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR. KENYA CONGRATULATES H.E. PRESIDENT BASHIR ON THE LAUNCH AND SWEARING IN OFTHE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION TWO WEEKS AGO. ON DARFUR, KENYA TAKES THE POSITION OF THE AFRICAN UNION AND SUPPORTS THE QATARI LED INITIATIVE AND CALLS UPON ALL DARFURIS TO GIVE PEACE A CHANCE AND JOIN THE ON-GOING TALKS.

EXCELLENCIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

30. FINALLY, LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR COMING, AND WISH YOU BLESSINGS DURING THE FORTHCOMING FESTIVE SEASON, AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. I WISH OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS EID MUBARAK.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.