Media

As is practice, every six months, the Mission interact with the media with a view to sharing the state of play in relation to the representation of Kenya in Ethiopia.

On 23rd November 2011,H.E Ambassador , highlighted issues of bilateral relations with Ethiopia and Djibouti.At the Multilateral level the preparation on COP 17 as the committee of 10  on the 16 November 2011 in which three issues of concern to Kenya including second commitment to Kyoto; financing for adaptation as well as negotiating modalities.Kenya is keen to have a resolution in Rio that takes in to account the threat that climate change and environmental management poses for Africa and hope a firm decision to provide for effective governance structure with proper and relevant mandate, sustainable resourcing and structures. In this case the transformation of UNEP into a specialized UN Agency that continues to be domiciled in Kenya is critical.

On regional front, the issue of Somalia has been under intense discussions at the AU on the Somalia operation in the light of the new state of play on the ground.It is the hope of Kenya that this discussion which culminated in the deliberations between the TCC for AMISOM, UNDPKO and partners on 14th November 2011 will culminate into a decision of the UNSC on enhancing the mandate and operational capability of AMISOM to undertake its full mandate in Somalia.

On 16th October, 2011, Kenya launched “Operation Linda Nchi”… “Operation Protect the Nation” in pursuit of Al Shabaab following an escalation of attacks and commission of crimes by this group within Kenya.  The objective of this operation was and remains to secure the territory of Kenya and ensure that Al Shabaab does not pose any threat to the territory people and property of Kenya.It is worth noting that the north eastern part of Kenya is comprised of Kenyan Somalis, Kenya elected to play a supportive role and not to engage in any action that could in any way be construed as aggressive.

Kenya has undertaken the following measures in her relations with the TFG:

  • Following the installation of the TFG, Kenya continues to provide numerous forms of support, including opening its border and facilities for use by the administration of the TFG to-date.
  • Since the fall of the Said Barre regime Kenya opened her borders with Somalia to its people. Currently Kenya host the largest reguee camp in the world at approximately 600,000 somali refugees.  Dadaab is the fourth largest human settlement in Kenya, after Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
  • Since the deployment of AMISOM troops to Somalia, Kenya has continued to provide medical facilities to AMISOM troops.
  • The management and organization of humanitarian operations in Somalia as well as the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) are based and facilitated out of Kenya.

More fundamentally, Kenya has continued to support the TFG’e effort to create a security capability. At the request of the TFG, Kenya is one of the neighbouring countries that has been training the Somalia allied forces that are currently engaged in the pursuit of Al Shabaab, side by side with the Kenyan security forces.

At the IGAD and AU levels Kenya has been consistent in calling upon the international community to focus serious attention on the growing threats associated with the insecurity in Somali.  It will be recalled that it was during Kenya’s chair of the AU PSC in October 2010 that the AU PSC made far reaching recommendations on the new concept of operation that included the revamping of the mandate of AMISOM, the blockade of Kismayu and the imposing of no fly zones especially over northern Somalia.