YouSaid · the spoken record

Uhuru Kenyatta

lines on the record: 114
first: 2014-09-24
most recent: 2021-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
sources: un-general-debate

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“We, collectively, have a solemn duty to ensure that the world is a better place for future generations. We must bequeath our children a politically stable, environmentally healthy and socially cohesive world. We, the leaders gathered in this great Hall, are and must be the bridge to that future world. Our actions today will determine whether that future is bleak and depleted of resources, with higher poverty levels and fragmented warring nations, or whether we bequeath to our children better living standards and prosperous, vibrant and cohesive societies that are endowed with sustainably managed resources. Never have we, the global leaders, faced such a stark choice — to either redeem the future or destroy it.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I am indeed delighted to participate in the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session. I take this opportunity to congratulate the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, a son of Africa and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You, Sir, can count on the full support of Kenya. I also take this opportunity to commend your predecessor, Ambassador Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, who, throughout her tenure, remained steadfast in her promotion of, and commitment to, a rules-based international system and multilateralism. The theme of this year’s session, “Galvanizing multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion”, is timely. It helps us to engage with a range of complex and intertwined global challenges that confront humankind today.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I welcome all delegations in a campaign for our collective benefit. In conclusion, the sea is increasingly being seen as a sustainable source of food, jobs and prosperity for the growing populations of the world. It is with that in mind that Kenya and Canada will co-host the first-ever global conference on the sustainable blue economy from 26 to 28 November this year, in Nairobi. I therefore take this opportunity to welcome all delegations to this conference and its deliberations on how we can access and harness financing, technology and skills as well as innovations and capacity-building to allow us to turn the blue economy into a driver of millions of jobs, a source of food and sustainable shared prosperity. We will be greatly honoured to host you, Mr. President, in Nairobi.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We strongly believe that the multilateralism that would headquarter major organizations in Africa and the global South is what the world needs. Global decision-making needs more of Africa if the world is to respond wisely to the demographic and economic shifts that are under way. Without Governments and the international system addressing the broadening deficits in fairness and inclusiveness, corruption, populism, radicalization, civil strife and political instability will continue to destabilize and destroy. Today’s problems, risks and threats are complex and call for more — not less — cooperation, more —not less — observance of the rule of law, more — not less — negotiation. We need a rules-based multilateral system. We are at a decisive moment, and Kenya will play its part to be a champion for change.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“As we all know, Africa is underrepresented in the non-permanent category of the Security Council, and we are not represented at all in the permanent category. That historical injustice is a clear indication of the skewed system that has perpetuated an exclusive model of governance that fuels the trust gap between nations. The governance, leadership and employment in United Nations funds, programmes and agencies must also become more noticeably inclusive of the global South, especially Africa. Kenya is a proud host to the only United Nations global headquarters in the global South, namely, the headquarters of both UNEP and UN-Habitat, whose mandates and effectiveness we are strongly committed to supporting.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The gap in trust that we are talking about at the national level can also be found at the global level and is aimed squarely at the leadership and processes of the multilateral system, as reflected in the Security Council, the Bretton Woods institutions and other parts of the system. In the years following the Second World War, the present status quo was functional and understandable. That is no longer the case 75 years later. The global governance system must also undergo reform if it is to be relevant and effective. The clearest sign that change is real will be in reforms to the membership of the Security Council. Kenya joins the demand for two permanent seats for Africa — with the rights and prerogatives of current members, including the right of veto, as well as additional non-permanent seats.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“They must be accompanied by determined reforms that are subject to clear timelines and standards, and which combat systemic corruption in the multilateral system, money-laundering and the offshoring of illicit outflows. The single overarching aim must be to make it exceedingly difficult to transfer and launder illegally acquired wealth in any part of the world. Indeed, all United Nations bodies should be given the task of detecting corruption in their different focus areas and promoting the skills and systems to combat it, in the understanding that honest, transparent and responsive Government is fundamental to the achievement of their aims. We must create a stronger understanding of the presence and impact of such deals in their different focus areas.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“I believe that the most urgent political task in the world today is to close the trust gap between people and governing institutions. Governments are not owed trust by citizens; that trust must be won and protected. It is not an exaggeration to say that the future of global stability and the continuity of many States turn on this issue. There are bold solutions that we must embrace in order to succeed. We have to fight impunity, seriously and without fear or favour. In Kenya, we are undertaking an aggressive campaign against fraud and abuse of public trust. We have reached out to our partners in Switzerland and the United Kingdom to take action against transfers of illegal proceeds of corruption to their banking and financial systems. We will pursue more such bilateral arrangements.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Today, we call on all Member States to join us in that endeavour for peace and stability in South Sudan. I appeal to all Members, development partners, international agencies and friends of South Sudan to redouble their efforts and support this cause to end the suffering of the children, women and men of South Sudan. Allow me to turn to the global sphere, which has also not been spared the challenges of today. Multilateralism is under severe strain, as evidenced by our global trading and economic management system. Rarely has the system of trade and security that was established following the Second World War, under the auspices of the United Nations, been under greater strain. The populism and extremism unleashed at the national level has brought forward powerful constituencies that want a dismantling of the global order.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We understand that these are difficult times economically, but global terrorism must be faced boldly. If we have learned any real lessons in the past 20 years, we should appreciate that AMISOM needs support, and it is up to all of us to make that happen. In building peace there are no silver bullets. The process of bringing stability and peace to South Sudan requires commitment. It requires us to walk closely with the South Sudanese parties, particularly now after the signing of the revitalized peace agreement. Kenya is proud of having walked with the Sudan and South Sudan in their pursuit of peace and stability. We have always known and firmly believe that the constancy of our efforts would yield the fruit of a prosperous and free South Sudan.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Kenyans have lost lives and property in pursuit of peace and stability in Somalia, and we appreciate our regional and international colleagues and partners. In Somalia, a historic chapter on Africa’s will to peace and security is being written. We appreciate the partners standing with the region. But the job is not yet done. We must ensure military success over Al-Shabaab if other political and economic solutions are to take firm root. So far, the troop-contributing countries continue to bear a disproportionate burden. We have consistently sought the kind of international support that is commensurate with the threat scenario, including in the form of enablers and force multipliers. These have not been forthcoming. What the international community is doing with regard to Somalia is not good enough.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“When networks and cartels in Government capture the State for their own selfish gain and represent themselves as champions of an ethnic or religious group, the result is all too often civil strife and civil war. In such an atmosphere, the result of a political competition can begin to seem like an existential threat to groups and their members. The fragility of our world is also manifest in instability and conflicts, as in the case of both Somalia and South Sudan. In Somalia, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is a unique regional effort that has deeply degraded one of Al-Qaida’s most ambitious affiliates. Kenya has been part of that journey from the start. It was in Nairobi where a transitional federal State was negotiated into existence, with the material and moral support of the Kenyan people. We have never wavered.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Collectively, drug addiction, violent extremism, international crime and terrorist actions result in misery and hurt to millions of victims all over the world. The most tragic manifestation of the destructive impact of the misery as a result of the crimes mentioned heretofore is the loss of trust in governing institutions at the national, regional and global levels. As people observe the impunity, they increasingly feel that the economic systems are rigged against their hopes. Therefore, the trust deficit grows. Frequently, institutions of Government have become desirable vehicles to capture ethnic or racial interests articulated by populists and extremists who thrive in chronic instability and drive it forward with their incitement.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Conservative estimates indicate that between 1980 and 2009 illicit money outflows from Africa ranged from $1.2 trillion to $1.4 trillion, roughly equal to Africa’s current gross domestic product and surpassing by far the money it received from outside over the same period. Every illicit dollar that leaves Africa goes somewhere — most often to where the rest of the money from tax evaders and criminals is hidden. Africans suffer as a result, but the irony is that what is done to Africa is eventually done to the rest of the world. The present system of transferring and laundering illicit capital is enabling corrupt networks all over the world to illegally acquire in one country, while being welcomed with open arms as investors in another. The same system is used by drug cartels and even terrorist networks.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Such dealings have over several decades been clothed with the garments of legality, institutionalizing the exploitation by cartels and oligopolies that are pillaging Africa and other underdeveloped regions of their natural wealth. That is the source of the popular theorizing on Africa’s resource curse. It has become clearer to citizens all over the world that what is enabling the illegal and illicit conduct of corrupt individuals and companies is a globalized financial and legal system. Its impact is worldwide but it is probably the leading cause of most of the suffering on the African continent. There is increasing evidence that Africa is a net exporter of much-needed capital to the world through illicit outflows.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Weak systems of governance are manipulated and exploited for the gain of predatory interests at the expense of the common person. Free media and social media are rife with news of outright fraud, cynical conflicts of interest and financial arrangements that privatize gains during prosperous times and socialize losses during economic catastrophe. In addition to individual corruption, major corporations misrepresent their earnings to deny Governments revenue needed for investment in the public good. The extraction of mineral and other resources continues to be subject to corrupt dealings that not only deny communities and countries any benefit but almost routinely lead to violence and instability.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“In almost every part of the world, a growing lack of trust is opening a dangerous gap between citizens and their governing institutions. That situation is partly the result of the impact of a number of significant factors, key among which is the growing demand by all our citizenry for accountability, occasioned by the attendant awareness of the gap between available resources and the provision of services to populations. Such demands are also fuelled by a growing awareness of the scourge of corruption and wastage of public resources and their negative effects on the lives and hopes of people. Due to the benefits of accessible information, never before in human history have so many people known how public trust is undermined by acts of commission or omission by a few individuals or networks, both in the private and public sectors.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“I also applaud the commitment of the United Nations staff, who are engaged daily in tackling a myriad of challenges that are greater than any one country or region can resolve on its own. Kenya strongly supports the General Assembly’s embrace of better alignment in the mandates of urbanization, human settlement and environmental governance. Its approach will enable the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to fully deliver on their role as global focal points for human settlements and environmental matters for the entire United Nations system. Even as we speak of important reforms at the United Nations, we must also recognize that the need for reforms is much broader and of greater significance than previously acknowledged.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The seventy-third session of the General Assembly is the second session to be held during the tenure of Secretary-General Guterres, who has already spoken publicly about the financial situation of the United Nations and has even spelled out reforms that need to be executed to ensure optimal utilization of our finances. I applaud the Secretary-General for his efforts and courage to cut costs and for his commitment to ensuring that the Organization’s resources are better managed. Indeed, I am convinced that part of those objectives will be achieved with the adoption of the proposals made in the context of the adoption of the global service delivery model. In that regard, it is my hope that Kenya will have the privilege to host one of the proposed three service centres.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Let me take this very early opportunity to congratulate Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés on her election to preside over the General Assembly at its seventy-third session. I have no doubt that the experience she draws from her distinguished career in the service of the Republic of Ecuador will be invaluable to her as she executes her new responsibility. I also note with appreciation that her strategic priorities for the seventy-third session, namely, strengthening multilateralism, catalysing the well-being of all persons and working to bring about a sustainable planet, as well as building a stronger, more efficient multilateral system, converge with Kenya’s aspirations. It is therefore my pleasure to reaffirm my Government’s complete commitment to our shared vision and to supporting the President during her tenure.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“In conclusion, I assure the Assembly that Kenya remains committed to continuing to play its rightful role in the global community, remain an anchor of peace and security in our region, and foster regional, continental and global cooperation for accelerated economic and social development and prosperity for all.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We should remain ambitious, yet at the same time practical, in order to bring real change to the lives of the poor around the world, as well as to guarantee the sustainability of our planet. Kenya will remain robust in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We will build on our experience from the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At the same time, Kenya will continue to pay special attention to fundamental sustainable development issues that were previously left out of the MDG framework, especially strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing global partners for sustainable development, as well as the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies, which remains critical to the realization of peace, security and sustainable development.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We are glad that much more progress continues to be recorded since the establishment of the Common Market in 2010. The Protocol Establishing the East African Monetary Union is already in place and its implementation under way. We remain committed to fast-tracking the process toan East African federation as a demonstration of the determination of the people of East Africa to construct a powerful and sustainable East African economic and political bloc. Looking into the future, the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has brought a new dawn for global development. We must collectively avoid the pitfalls of the past 70 years. We must, as a matter of priority, focus all efforts towards ending poverty and promoting sustainable peace and security.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The East African Community remains one of the fastest-growing regional integration bodies and we hope this will continue. The East African Community is committed to widening and deepening cooperation among partner States in political, economic and social fields for our mutual benefit. Over the years, the East African Community has expanded its membership from three founding partners to five, which are now Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. This signifies a wider market that bears great strategic and geopolitical significance and prospects for a renewed and reinvigorated East African Community. Much progress has been made and recorded in the East African Community since the establishment of the East African Customs Union in 2005.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“COP21 is a crucial conference, during which global leaders will need the political will to reach the expected outcome that will enable the Conference to achieve a new international agreement on climate that is applicable to all countries, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C. We therefore commend the efforts of France and all others in facilitating the United Nations search for consensus in climate negotiations. Similarly, Kenya will continue to constructively engage to ensure that we reach a meaningful universal climate change agreement that takes into account the issues affecting the developing world. Kenya is happy to note that the efforts to deepen our regional integration within the East African Community continue to bear fruit.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The relevant means for achieving this have been developed and integrated into the Sustainable Development Goals, to be complemented by the outcome of the third International Conference on Financing for Development, to which I referred earlier. Implementation and follow-up will be critical. We will therefore need all partners on board to make it a success. To complete our new path to sustainable development, all of us in Kenya look forward to the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Paris in November and December.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It commits all of us to being responsible global citizens, caring for the less fortunate and for our planet’s ecosystem and making action commitments regarding the climate, on which all life depends. It is important to note that the Agenda received valuable inputs from civil society, the private sector, academia and parliamentarians, as well as from millions of people from every corner of the world who shared their vision of the world we want. Kenya is proud and honoured to have played an important role in the post-2015 development agenda process by co-chairing the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and by co-facilitating the intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda. It is now the responsibility of all countries to implement this new universal development Agenda.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“This new Agenda acknowledges that sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security; at the same time, peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. That calls for building peaceful, inclusive and well-governed societies, with responsive institutions as the basis for shared prosperity. Fundamentally, the Agenda recognizes that we cannot reach our development goals without addressing human rights and complex humanitarian issues at the same time. The Agenda addresses the requirements for all humankind to be able to live decent lives, free from poverty, hunger and inequality, with all men and women, girls and boys, able to develop their full potential.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“I wish to express my appreciation to the Secretary- General for the successful outcome of the Summit on the post-2015 development agenda. A few days ago, we adopted a bold, ambitious and transformative Agenda for Sustainable Development for the next 15 years. This pact was a culmination of more than three years of intergovernmental negotiations, which began with the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. We are glad to note that the Agenda recognizes as its overarching goal ending poverty in all its forms everywhere. The Goals and targets set by the Agenda are universal and will apply to all countries, while different realities and capabilities are nevertheless recognized.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We have noted the importance of public international finance as a complement to domestic public resources, and we have therefore put in place a national external resources policy with emphasis on sourcing concessional or semi-concessional support for key projects. To effectively coordinate the architecture for the delivery of external aid, we have put in place initiatives to fully implement the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. Kenya therefore remains committed to adopting appropriate follow-up and review mechanisms, which will ensure that all the means of implementation are reviewed periodically. Going forward, we need to address capacity deficits in key institutions, such as our national statistical offices, in order to enable them to capture the timely and reliable data required for the follow-up and review process.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“That means addressing fiscal constraints in the available fiscal space and strengthening the capacities of tax authorities. The non-financial means, which include international trade as an engine of development, debt and debt sustainability, and the taking on of system,ic issues, have also to be implemented. This being said, the role of ODA remains key to upholding the credibility of international development cooperation. It is therefore imperative that development partners continue to redouble their efforts to support and finance programmes in developing countries. Kenya places great importance on domestic resource mobilization to cover both its recurrent and its development commitments.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We are glad to note that disaster risk reduction is part of the new Sustainable Development Agenda. At the third International Conference on Financing for Development, held in July in Addis Ababa, important decisions were reached to follow up on the commitments made in Monterrey and Doha and to further strengthen the financing of the sustainable development framework. The Conference outcome document focused on both financial and non-financial means of implementation. The required resources will have to be obtained through domestic resource mobilization, domestic and international private finance, business finance and international public finance, which includes official development assistance (ODA). However, domestic resource mobilization remains key in raising the resources needed to finance development.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The Conference called for the full commitment and involvement of all actors concerned, in particular Governments, regional and international organizations and civil society, including volunteers, the private sector and the scientific community. The Conference also called on Governments to mobilize the required means of implementation in order to address disaster risk reduction, which involves building capacities, especially in defining risk and mainstreaming risk pricing, in order to inform priorities in public expenditures. For effective implementation, capacity-building should cover enhanced global risk analysis and extend to local authorities and others at the subnational level. In order to address risk reduction, sound follow-up mechanism for monitoring and accountability are needed.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Sendai, Japan, underscored the importance of promoting efforts to reduce disaster risks at the international and regional levels, as well as at the national and local levels. The Conference noted that the cost of addressing disaster risk remained a huge burden to many countries. As a result, efforts to address poverty eradication and food security, among other challenges, have continued to be undermined. Going forward, the Conference agreed that it would be important to mitigate the risks of disaster by implementing resilience measures. Member States would have to undertake to reduce disaster losses in terms of lives and the social, economic and environmental assets of communities.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“These began with the third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in March, then the third International Conference on Financing for Development in July, and the General Assembly, with its very recent adoption of the new Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), whose ambitious outcome has put us on a a new sustainable development path, with a new set of Goals. The forthcoming Paris session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is also expected to reach an inclusive, balanced, ambitious and acceptable climate change agreement, including its financing, that, we hope, will this time turn plans into actions. The Paris Conference must succeed; failure in this case cannot be an option.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The new Agenda — Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) — therefore seeks to address transformative challenges that cut across the social, economic and environmental dimensions of development. But transformative and inclusive development does not mean that we can abandon our responsibility to support the countries in the greatest need. On the contrary, as the international community, we must redouble our efforts to ensure that no one is left behind and that no country is left behind. The year 2015 will be remembered in history as the time when it was decided at important conferences that the world should be on a sustainable development path.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Since then, the MDGs have galvanized and catalysed international action in support of eradicating poverty and realizing other social targets. The MDGs demonstrated that a set of development goals and targets could be important drivers of change. Indeed, where successfully implemented, the MDGs have had a positive impact on the lives of millions of people. But, at best, the results have been uneven. Many developing countries remain off track and have not been able to meet their 2015 deadline. It was therefore necessary to begin a global process to shape a new development agenda, with the starting point being the unfinished business of the MDGs and the creation of a truly transformative and inclusive development agenda as was agreed at the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Kenya welcomes the recently signed peace treaty, calls upon both parties to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict and urges the international community, especially the United Nations, to support the IGAD-Plus peace process and other initiatives geared to the realization of a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in South Sudan. That should be achieved through the enforcement of the peace and security arrangements, support for the institutions of governance and democracy, support for the demilitarization of South Sudan and a response to the current humanitarian crisis. South Sudan needs to find the path of peace, development and reconstruction, and that needs to happen urgently. At the beginning of this millennium we adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“In spite of the threat posed by Al-Shabaab to Kenya, we will continue to stand firm in support of the Somali Government and the people of Somalia. We therefore call on the international community to support the Federal Government of Somalia in securing its territory. We remain committed, together with other international partners, to providing the necessary support to the Federal Government of Somalia in implementing its Vision 2016. Kenya is also preocupied by the emerging governance and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan in the aftermath of the political crisis that occurred in 2013. The crisis in South Sudan remains an issue of great concern not only to Kenya, but to the region of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and to the larger international community.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Kenya and Somalia share strong historical, cultural and trading ties that have benefited both societies. Somalia remains of major concern to the international community, and to Kenya in particular, owing to long-standing crises and the security situation, which remains a grave threat to peace and security in the East Africa region and throughout the Horn of Africa. While Al-Shabaab’s capacity to launch terrorist acts inside Somalia has greatly diminished owing to the presence of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and its troops, Al-Shabaab’s continued presence in Somalia has a negative impact on the security, stability and prosperity of that country. The Kenya Defence Forces, within the framework of AMISOM, will continue working closely with the Somali National Army.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Global terrorism and violent extremism remain a major threat not only to the Republic of Kenya, but also to the entire world. To date, Al-Shabaab terrorists have been targeting the civilian population in Kenya on the pretext that Kenya has deployed its troops in Somalia. The continued threat by Al-Shabaab has had a major impact on Kenya’s national security and economy in general. Kenya therefore calls upon the international community to take strong and enforceable action in combating Al-Shabaab, together with other terrorist groups, including foreign fighters. At the same time, we must collectively address the radicalization of youth as the pipeline for global terrorism, including its financing at the grass-roots level, where most young people are radicalized. Somalia is an important neighbour of Kenya.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The continuing grave security situation in Eastern Africa and further afield is of particular concern to Kenya, which has continued to invest millions of dollars in the maintenance of regional peace and security, while many Kenyans have lost their lives in the quest for peace. We therefore urge the international community, in particular the Security Council, to shoulder its responsibilities in such a way as to make a direct impact in the resolution of those conflicts. There is a need to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, to provide access to justice for all and to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, as stated in Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals, in order to realize sustainable peace all over the world.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Today, as in the past 70 years, the challenges faced by developing countries, together with their aspirations, including peace and security, development, the protection of human rights, environmental conservation and global governance, remain as real and relevant as ever. They are expected to continue to be the primary concerns for a number of Member States over the coming years. The maintenance of international peace and security continues to face increasing challenges owing to the growing intensity and complexity of conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, especially in the Great Lakes region, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“That era was also seen as the precursor to greater global equality, increased social equity and the beginning of the fight against mass poverty. It also led to the growth of democracy and freedom. Today, the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations is being celebrated against a backdrop of numerous global challenges. The adverse effects of globalization, the debilitating consequences of the world economic and financial crisis and the negative effects of climate change have increased the vulnerability of the global economy and affected the States Members of the United Nations to varying degrees.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is a pleasure for me to be addressing the General Assembly at its seventieth session. Let me begin by congratulating the President on his election at this historic session. We are confident that his vast diplomatic experience will enable him to steer the proceedings and contribute to the achievement of the objectives that he has set. Kenya fully supports his leadership and will constructively engage with him as we strive to realize those objectives. Seventy years ago, in the aftermath of the Second World War, the United Nations was established with the objective of saving succeeding generations from the recurrence of war. Thereafter, the world took up the challenge of defeating colonialism and its ideologies.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is my hope that the confluence of forces that have come together to continually make our development efforts unnecessarily difficult will be persuaded with urgency, to reassess their motives and hopefully re-engage within the global community and with our country and region in a more positive, constructive and humane manner; recognizing that, in the end, no one people, nor one country, not even any one continent, can inhabit the world peaceably alone in isolation from the rest of the globe. We are in this world together to succeed together, to win together and to build a better future for all everywhere, together.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“In light of that, my Government continues to invest heavily to combat extremists and terrorists. The global effort needs to be reinforced because, as we know, the intent of terrorists is to destroy free, secure and democratic nations and people. As long as international terrorism exploits our open, multicultural and multi-religious society and gravely harms our social fabric, our progress towards achieving the goals of a transformative agenda will no doubt be slowed. Kenya believes in a better, happier and more prosperous future for all.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We continue to work towards achieving 10-per cent forest cover; we are well above global targets for renewable energy use, and fully support all measures agreed upon at the recent United Nations Environmental Assembly in Nairobi. Recognizing that our prosperity is linked to that of our neighbours, Kenya is engaged in a range of programmes and activities to hasten eastern African integration. We have eased the movement of goods and services across our borders. More importantly, our people can travel, work and settle across east Africa. We have also grown our trade volumes and are looking to closer integration across a range of other sectors. Those are a few highlights of my Government’s transformative agenda. We are committed to safeguarding and expanding those initiatives by creating an enabling and secure environment.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Impact evaluations indicate that the programme has reduced poverty, improved family health and raised school enrolment. As the Assembly is aware, Kenya is a leading tourist destination. We are also endowed with a number of rare species, some endangered, which we hold in trust for humankind. My Government attaches great value to conservation. We continue to raise awareness of the need to step up the fight against poaching and illicit wildlife trafficking. We have enacted laws to help fight the scourge, and continue to work with other countries and organizations to enhance the protection of our fauna and flora. Similarly, Kenya remains at the heart of international efforts to mitigate and adapt to challenges relating to climate change.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Margaret Kenyatta, for successfully launching the Beyond Zero Campaign that is tapping into private sector financing to bolster the management of chronic preventable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and to improve maternal and child health throughout the country. Kenya is today on track to achieve universal primary education. Based on that, we have expanded our vision to include universal secondary education. We are seeking to build a more inclusive society, and strive to leave no one behind. It is for that reason that my Government has implemented a social protection cash transfer programme to orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disabilities and our elderly citizens. The programme targets 450,000 households throughout Kenya.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)