PRESIDENT RUTO FLAGS OFF TROOPS TO DRC PEACE KEEPING MISSION. ALSO GIVES STATEMENT ON UNION LED PEACE TALKS IN ETHIOPIA.

 

Photo courtesy; State House Kenya

What you need to know;

• Today Wednesday afternoon, the president flagged off Kenyan troops to DRC for a peace keeping mission.

• The president also issued a statement on the ongoing peace talks in Ethiopia on behalf of the republic of Kenya.

• President Ruto's government is committed to champion for peace in East and Central Africa.

President William Ruto officially flagged off Kenyan troops to a peace keeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He stated Kenyans commitment to contributing to peace in the continent and vowed to always be a champion of peace.

President William Ruto said Kenya will always answer the call to promote peace and security in East Africa. 

" East African countries have a collective responsibility to work together to end conflicts and violence that deny the region the space to prosper. This deployment is significant and urgent as it responds to the collective aspirations of a sustainable peace in our region. We owe our brotherly duty to DRC until the job is done. " ~~President William Ruto.

He was speaking on Wednesday at Embakasi Garrison when he flagged off the Kenyan contingent to the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the auspices of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF).

The President added that Kenya’s participation in EACRF continues a proud legacy of peace keeping by the Kenya Defence Forces. 

He asked the troops to discharge their mandate professionally.

The president afterwards made his statement to the ongoing Union led peace talks in Ethiopia. He emphasized Kenya's commitment to ensuring peace and a united East African Union.

The statement is attached herewith;

STATEMENT BY H.E. HON. WILLIAM SAMOEI RUTO, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES, ON THE ONGOING AFRICAN UNION LED ETHIOPIA PEACE PROCESS.

"On behalf of the people and the Government of Kenya, I commend the parties to the Ethiopia peace process, namely, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray Regional Government for signing a Peace Agreement today.

I applaud His Excellency Prime Minister Aby Ahmed and the leadership of Tigray for their bold step towards restoring peace in Ethiopia. I also salute the great people of Ethiopia, for whom I wish an era of cohesion, integration and reconciliation.

The commitment demonstrated by the two parties to the African Union-led peace process aligns with our collective desire for peace and security within our region. As a member of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), Kenya joins in complimenting our Ethiopian brothers and sisters for the step taken to cease hostilities, open up humanitarian corridors, and restore services. This mutual agreement will create the necessary environment to nurture durable peace and political stability in Ethiopia.

I commend the AU Panelists, H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria and AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa; H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, former "President of Kenya; H.E Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuke former South African deputy President, for their facilitation and tireless efforts, wisdom and patience, and most of all, for their unity of purpose that brought this day of peace that heralds a bright future for the people of Ethiopia.

To the People and Government of South Africa, I say thank you, for hosting the Ethiopia peace talks.

In light of our regional spirit of collective action, I urge our Ethiopian brothers and sisters to seize the opportunity provided by this agreement to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for their beloved country.

I reaffirm Kenya's continued commitment to support the next steps in the peace process. I therefore call upon the international community to intensify support for the mediation team as well as the respective parties, to ensure timely and binding outcomes.

Finally, I would like to express our strong appreciation of the observers, including the IGAD, US, and UN for their committed support to the peace process." ~~President William Samoei Ruto, EGH.