Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka Wednesday challenged members of the African Union (AU) to work towards restoring peace in member countries still faced with conflicts.
Singling Somalia as one of such countries, Mr. Musyoka said it behooved the Union to ensure that such countries enjoyed peace like the rest of the continent.
"We cannot rest while some of our brothers and sisters still crave for peace notably the people of Somalia. Kenya supports all efforts towards the search for lasting peace in such regions", Mr. Musyoka observed when he addressed participants at the UNON Headquarters, Nairobi, during the 48th African Day celebrations where he was the chief guest.
He lauded the Burundi government for sending peace keepers and standing with the people of Somalia and called on other African countries to emulate her so as to restore peace and tranquility in the Horn of African state.
The Vice President urged AU to fast track the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as one of way of tackling the many challenges that bedevil the continent, such as illiteracy, HIV/Aids pandemic, poverty, and high child mortality.
"We need to redouble our efforts and exploit all available opportunities to realize these goals so as to further improve the lives of our people," Mr. Musyoka added.
He paid tribute to African leaders who fought for the liberation of the continent from imperialism, terming them the real force behind Africa's successes in unity, integration socio-economic and political cooperation.
The VP urged African leaders to build upon the foundation laid by such gallant leaders as Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kwame Nkurumah, Gamel Abdel Nasser, Emperor Haile Sellassie, Namdi Azikiwe and Sekou Toure,
Others included, Modibo Keita, Kenneth Kaunda, and Julius Nyerere. Agostinoh Neto, Samora Machel, Amilcar Cabral, Albert Luthuli and Nelson Mandela.
He noted with appreciation that the continent has made great strides in coming up with home-grown solutions for problems facing her citizens.
"Africa has witnessed a re-awakening with Africans themselves leading the way in the search for peace and stability on their own soil. For instance many formerly conflict-torn nations on the continent have steadily been nursed into good health and this positive trend is the culmination of efforts towards democratic governance, public sector reform, greater transparency and accountability," he observed.
On the recent standoff between the South and North Sudan over Abyei region, the Vice President appealed to both the North and South Sudan Presidents Omar Hassan Al Bashir and Salva Kiir to urgently resolve the dispute for the sake of peace, independence and successful transition.
Mr. Musyoka said Kenya is striving to ensure that the youth realize their full potential by realizing the vision 2030.
The chairperson of the African Union Commission Jean Ping in a speech read on his behalf by an AU official, Mr. Abubakar Diara said AU has put in place measures that would promote and uplift the standards of living of African youth.
He said the youth must be empowered as the catalyst of change and transformation of the society.
Ping said Africa youths were ill prepared in the job market due to gaps in education and urged African leaders to provide an enabling environment that will better their needs.
The Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps Amb. George William Kayonga singled out diseases, maternity and infant mortality and poverty as some of the challenges still facing the continent.
Present at the celebrations included the Saboti Member of Parliament Eugene Wamalwa and the permanent representative to the Republic of Kenya to UNON Amb. George Owour, Ambassadors and High Commissioners among others.
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