Support security reforms, EA leaders urged

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has called on the east African leadership to support the ongoing Security Sector Reform (SSR) process.

Mr Musyoka said leaders should commit resources to sustain security and justice reform efforts in the region.

The VP said well managed and accountable reforms would enable the region provide an effective system capable of protecting the most vulnerable members of its populations.

"Governance and accountability should be at the heart of any SSR process. It is only through security sector reforms that we are able to protect our respective populations”, he said during the High Level Panel discussion on SSR in East Africa at the United Nations Offices in Gigiri, Nairobi Tuesday.

The discussion was attended by Ministers and MPs from South Sudan, Somalia and Burundi as well as several diplomats from other countries.

Mr Musyoka said SSR is an important component of development, peace and security for the whole East Africa region as it guarantees a secure environment.

"This is what we need to instill confidence that promotes investment in the economy and creates the ideal conditions for development to flourish,” he noted.

Assume greater ownership

He said east Africans must improve their capacity to set and shape the SSR agenda in the region and improve their ability to assume greater ownership of the process.

The VP said whereas East African countries recognise the support of the international partners in driving the SSR processes, it is incumbent upon national authorities to take the lead role in security and justice reform efforts.

Mr Musyoka, however, noted that SSR processes that fail to ensure local ownership risk being unsustainable and bound to lack legitimacy.

He said the region has many border security challenges and threats that could be addressed effectively through improved collaboration at the sub-regional and bilateral levels.

He said SSR should not be allowed to be a stand-alone process but one that is weaved into long-term development goals and implemented in a graduated manner.

Mr Musyoka said some east African states were still experiencing conflict, while others were at an advanced stage of peace consolidation and democratisation.

Director General of UNON, Ambassador Sahle-Work Zewde said that the UN agencies will continue to cooperate with all the countries in the region to enhance peace building through AU and other stakeholders.

Slovakia Ambassador to Kenya Michal Mlynar said his country will continue to support the SSR efforts in partnership with the AU, EAC and IGAD.

He commended the role Kenya has played in ensuring there is peace in the East and Central Africa region.