Use the Browser BACK button to return to listings

Nairobi, September 29, 2008

President Mwai Kibaki inspects a guard of honour mounted by the Kenya Air Force on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi from New York.

President Mwai Kibaki returned home this morning from an official visit to New York, U.S.A.

During the visit, President Kibaki addressed the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly where he appealed to oil producing countries to consider the plight of non oil-producing countries particularly in the developing world.

The President noted that the sharp increase in oil prices was fast eroding gains made by economies of developing countries hence threatening international peace.

President Kibaki also attended a High-Level meeting on Millennium Development Goals at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and challenged developed countries to honor their pledged donor support in order to hasten realization of the MDGs.

Giving a report card of the Kenyan situation, the Head of State enumerated several sectors in which the Government had made strides while also taking into account challenges that hindered accelerated realization of the MDGs.

The President said, “At this halfway point, Kenya has made substantial progress on three goals namely; MDG number 2 on education, MDG number 4 on child mortality, and MDG number 5 on maternal health.”

Appealing for donor support in the attainment of the goals, the President emphasized that MDGs had been integrated in the national policy blueprint of the Vision 2030 while the government continued to mobilize more local resources to fund MDGs related expenditure.

While in New York, President Kibaki also held discussions with US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon and World Bank President Robert Zoelick.

At the meeting with President Kibaki, the US Secretary of State reaffirmed her Government’s commitment to supporting the resettlement of the internally displaced persons residing in various parts of the country.

She said that through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US Government would also support Kenya in programmes aimed at mitigating the effects of the drought being experienced in arid and semi-arid parts of the country.

Meeting with President Kibaki, United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon said he was greatly encouraged by the progress of Kenya’s Grand Coalition Government and pledged his full support.

The UN Secretary General said Kenya was a good example of the positive strides that successful mediation could bring to a country.

During the meeting with World Bank boss, President Kibaki asked the Bank to expedite the release of funds for construction of the Kericho-Kisumu-Busia highway. In response the World Bank head said that the Bretton Woods institution would fast track the releasing of the funds for the construction of the important highway.

The plane carrying President Kibaki and First Lady Mama Lucy Kibaki touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly after 6.00 a.m. and they were warmly received by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Amb. Francis Muthaura among other senior Government officials.

Later the President inspected a guard of honour mounted by a detachment of the Kenya Airforce before he was entertained by choirs and groups of traditional dancers.