The President of Kenya Hosts Eastern Africa Security Leaders as he Honours Pledge to AU Peace Fund

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya, Hon Uhuru Kenyatta today hosted Ministers and Chiefs of Defence of the Eastern Africa region.

Speaking at State House Nairobi, President Kenyatta assured the security leaders of the highest level of commitment by the Government of Kenya on matters of peace and security and commended them for the ongoing dialogue in the region, aimed at enhancing peace and security not only in the region but in the entire continent of Africa. He urged them to continue working together to fight terrorism, conflicts and other threats which continue to infringe on the scarce resources, and to rapidly actualise the framework for peace.

During this visit, President Kenyatta honoured a pledge he recently made at the AU summit in Addis Ababa to the African Peace fund by handing over the cheque to the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui.

The Ministers and Chiefs of Defence are currently attending the 16th Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Defence under the regional umbrella body, the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) in Nairobi, Kenya.

The delegation included Hon Amb Raychelle Omamo, Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Defence, Gen Dr Julius Karangi, Chair to the Committee of the Eastern Africa Chiefs of Defence staff, Amb Dr Monica Juma, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Kenya, Gen Robert Kabage, Director of the International Peace Support Training Centre, Nairobi (IPSTC), and Maj Gen Cyrille Ndayirukiye, the Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM) and his staff.