SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MWAI KIBAKI, C.G.H., M.P., PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE HIGH LEVEL PLENARY MEETING ON MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2008

Mr. Secretary-General,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

May I begin my remarks by saying how honoured I am to address the United Nations High Level Summit that is taking stock of what has been achieved halfway in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, and the challenges that must be overcome, if we are to achieve all of the MDGs globally in the remaining 7 years. 

There are many challenges that we are experiencing at country and regional levels in attaining the expected milestones.  Indeed, for many countries in the developing world, achieving all the MDGs by Twenty-Fifteen may be an uphill task.

I therefore hope that this forum will provide a clear roadmap of what must be done collectively to ensure that no country or region is left behind as we progress towards attaining all or most of the MDGs by 2015.  

Mr. Secretary General,
Let me now turn to Kenya�s accomplishments and the challenges with regard to the MDGs.  

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. 

With regard to education, Kenya introduced free primary education in 2003.   Five years later, we have made substantial progress in ensuring that school-age children attend school. 

We have also significantly enhanced the transition rate from primary to secondary school.  In addition, we are progressing steadily towards gender parity.   For instance, the Gross Enrolment rate at the primary school level now stands at 107.6 percent, compared to 93 percent in 2002.

This translates to 1.7 million more children in our primary schools.  Furthermore, 60 percent of primary school children are now joining secondary schools because of the affordable tuition-free secondary school education programme we launched this year. 

Indeed, this is a significant improvement over the 46.5 percent attained in 2003. We have also attained gender parity in primary and secondary schools in most provinces.  Further, Kenya is making steady progress with regard to reducing child mortality. 

Our immunization rates have risen to 72 percent, from 57 percent five years ago, while 68 percent of children aged five years and below now sleep under bed-nets provided free of charge by the government.

These measures, combined with investments the Government has made in providing greater access to clean water, have progressively reduced child mortality rates by 19 percent.

With regard to maternal health, about 90 percent of women are currently receiving antenatal care, while the Government is also providing free maternity delivery services at public health centres. 

As a result of these efforts, the proportion of births attended by skilled health staff has grown to 57 percent presently, compared to 42 percent five years ago.  Furthermore, these measures have enabled us to achieve a 30 percent reduction in maternal mortality in the last five years.

Other areas that have recorded substantial progress include HIV/AIDS prevalence that has reduced to 6 percent from 13 percent eight years ago. TB prevalence rates have also shown a downward trend from 6 to 5 percent over the same period. 

Mr. Secretary-General,
We have now fully integrated the MDGs into our national policy blueprint of Vision Twenty-Thirty and its first five-year implementation strategy that runs from 2008 to 2012.  We are therefore hopeful that we will be able to attain many of the goals. 

Nevertheless, although we expect our economy grow at an average rate of between 7 and 8 percent over the next five years, thereby providing substantial domestic resources for MDGs related expenditure, I would like to appeal for more support from the developed nations so that we can attain all the goals by 2015.

In conclusion, Mr. Secretary-General, let me emphasize that as developing countries, we will not be able to attain the MDGs without the developed countries playing their part fully. 

I therefore urge the conclusion of the Doha Development Round that will establish a new global trade and investment regime.  I also appeal to the developed countries to fulfill their pledges on Official Development Assistance particularly with regard to the MDG commitments.

Thank you.