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Nairobi, January 30, 2012

President Kibaki returns from Addis Ababa

President Mwai Kibaki jetted back into the country this evening from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he attended the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and African Union (AU) summits.

Addressing the AU summit, President Kibaki called on African leaders to chart the way for increased trade in the continent.

In this regard, the President emphasized that efforts to increase intra-regional trade should be guided by political commitment accompanied by measurable time-bound targets.

On environment, President Kibaki urged African leaders to forge a common stand on environmental issues so that the African voice could be heard at the global arena.

The President, at the same time, thanked the United Nations (UN) for bestowing Kenya with the honour of being the first developing country to host a UN body and reassured of the Kenya Government’s commitment to ensuring that facilities in Nairobi measure up to international standards.

The Head of State called for continental support to ensure that UNEP remains headquartered in Nairobi.

President Kibaki also addressed the 20th Extra Ordinary IGAD summit where he appealed to the governments of Khartoum and Juba to honour the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to save the region from further instability.

During the official visit to Ethiopia, the President also attended the official opening of the new multi-million dollar AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The plane carrying President Kibaki and his entourage touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly before 6.00 p.m. and was received by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Acting Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia and Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere among other senior Government officials.