Kibaki back from UN summit

President Kibaki is back in the country from New York where he attended the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In his address to the Mini-Summit on Somalia, President Kibaki called on the United Nations Security Council to help boost the mandate of the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

He lauded major milestones achieved in the Somalia conflict, but confirmed that the war ravaged country still faced significant challenges especially in securing areas previously occupied by the Al-Shabaab militia.

President Kibaki called on the international community to urgently make available resources and goodwill to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and AMISOM to help them extend their control beyond Mogadishu.

While addressing the UN General Assembly, the President urged world leaders to embrace mediation as a tool for conflict management and peaceful settlement of disputes between and within states.

President Kibaki advocated that regional organizations be facilitated to play an increased role in peaceful resolution of disputes.

He underscored that the 21st century presents the world with new and complex security challenges arising from a range of political, economic, financial and environmental factors, among others.

On global warming, President Kibaki noted that the complex challenge posed by the climate change continues to manifest itself in the Horn of Africa resulting to the current drought, the worst in 60 years.

Calling for enhanced regional capacity for early warning systems and adequate response arrangements, the Head of State said the drought had resulted in a severe crisis affecting over 12 million people.

At another function, the Head of State met Kenyans living in the United States of America in a banquet hosted for the Kenyan community in US. They praised the President for his leadership that has led to an improved economy.

The Kenyan community expressed their gratitude to the President for fulfilling his promise of ushering Kenya into a new constitutional dispensation which enabled Kenyans in Diaspora to enjoy dual citizenship.

At an investment symposium organised by the Harvard Club of New York City, the Head of State said that Kenya’s ambitious infrastructural development programmes provided investors with numerous lucrative investment opportunities.

During the forum, President Kibaki emphasised one of the most important aspect of economic transformation of any nation is hinged on infrastructure development.

He urged American investors to seek opportunities in the ongoing development of the country’s second international and regional transport system known as the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET).

The President confirmed that the LAPSSET project was a great investment opportunity for both local and foreign investors accompanied with impressive projected rates of return.

President Kibaki, who arrived at 6am Tuesday, was received by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Also present were: Assistant minister Orwa Ojode, Chief of Defence Forces General Julius Karangi and other senior government officials.