Regional peace key to Kenya’s development: Mudavadi

Kenya will continue anchoring its developmental agenda on peace and security, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said.

Mudavadi said an enabling economy for the growth of Kenya’s GDP will largely rely on the peace situation in the country.

He noted that the current situation in the neighboring eastern DRC and Sudan calls for a collective effort to return to normalcy.

“Unity of purpose is critical in the realisation of peace and stability for any nation. As we lead these peace processes, focus at home should reflect the practical aspects that will help the region stabilize,” said Mudavadi.

“Currently, in the eastern DRC, ethnic profiling is worsening the situation. Nationals from other countries are getting themselves in the crisis, compromising efforts to restore sanctity.”

Mudavadi, who also doubles as the Foreign Affairs CS, said embracing urgent peace initiatives will not only be essential for eastern DRC and Sudan but also for the region and Africa as a continent.

He said the long-drawn conflict in the eastern region of DRC and Sudan continues to claim millions of lives and displacing countless civilians; with children, women and Persons with Disabilities bearing the brunt.

“A major risk is that the conflicts continue to rapidly mutate into other forms of threats to human security and dignity such as sexual exploitation, abuse and gender-based violence as a mode of war, illicit exploitation and trafficking of natural resources, swelling war economy and erosion of state institutions and authority,” said Mudavadi.

The Prime CS said negotiation rather than combat is what will help restore peace in the crisis prone regions.

“Kenya continues to anchor its diplomatic engagement on key pillars of its foreign policy. Peace and security call for all stakeholders to be on board in the talks,” urged Mudavadi.

Kenya has already issued an advisory on the peace situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, calling on the Kenyans in DRC to take caution of their security situation.

The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said where possible it will consider evacuations, especially in the volatile regions.

“The government of Kenya s considering the evacuation of Kenyans who can reach out to our consulate in Goma and our temporary offices in Congo Brazzaville,” Mudavadi said in a statement on Thursday.

He said Kenya will continue urging parties in the conflict prone regions to consider an immediate ceasefire, as adopted by the Heads of State and the joint East African Cooperation, ad Southern African Development Community High-Level Meeting held in Tanzania recently.

“The government will continue to appraise Kenyans on each and every step being undertaken. The negative aspect being labelled on the government when it communicates on the road map to the future is not right,” he regretted.

Mudavadi said nothing will be hidden from Kenyans in terms of the progress being made by the government in entirety.

He was speaking at the funeral service of Mzee Kingi Mwaruwa Mkweha, the father to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, in Kamale, Kilifi County.