NAIROBI: For immediate release

Nairobi – July 15, 2011

Kenya lauded

African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Lead Eminent Panelist for Kenya Prof. Amos Sawyer has praised the country for remaining focused on its goals and transformation processes.

Prof. Sawyer, a former president of Liberia said there was a clear indication that Kenya continues to register improvement in development processes.

Addressing the media at the Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 headquarters at Treasury building in Nairobi, the former Head of State who is in the country to oversee the Second Country Review for Kenya noted that the country has been implementing its national plan of action.

“This second review is in line with efforts to address issues in Kenya’s governance by looking at issues essential to your own reform agenda, the progress made, challenges faced and how they are being addressed,” he said.

Sawyer said during the First Country Review for Kenya in 2004, a number of critical issues had emerged including management of diversity, the land question, youth unemployment, corruption, transparency and accountability, ethnic tension, poverty and inequality. He added that the Government and the people of Kenya have been working on the concerns raised.

He indicated that 30 AU member States have  now acceded to the APRM which is an indigenous African innovation based on the process of self assessment, and that 14 of these countries- Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria, Benin, Uganda, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, Lesotho, Mauritius and Ethiopia  have been peer reviewed so far.

Hon. Peter Kenneth, Assistant Minister in the Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 said Kenya as a country was ready for the review ahead of many other countries.

“The review exercise is expected to highlight the progress made by the country, best practices particularly in the implementation of the national reform agenda, as well as potential areas of constraints and challenges and recommendations,” the Minister added.

 Kenneth announced that Prof. Sawyer and his team will conduct a review for the next two weeks bringing together both state and non-state actors from all the 47 counties in the country.

The APRM requires African states to subject themselves to Self-Assessment by their own citizens, followed by external review led by Panel Distinguished African leaders – the African Peer Review Panel of Eminent Persons culminating in a Peer Review exercise conducted by the Forum of Heads of State participating in the APRM.

Ends……………

Regards,

Dave Jones Buchere
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030
P.O BOX 30005 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel. 020-2252299 Ext 33350
Direct Line 020-313563
website:www.planning.go.ke
Email:dbuchere@planning.go.ke
Cell phone 0722376916.