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McKinnon holds talks with Kenyan President

24 January 2007

Secretary-General briefs President Kibaki on democracy, good governance and development work by the Commonwealth

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon held talks with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki in Nairobi, Kenya, on 24 January 2007.

He briefed President Kibaki on preparations for this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Uganda in November. The Secretary-General also gave the President an update on the work of the Commission on Respect and Understanding and the Committee on Commonwealth Membership.

He also held meetings with the Trade Minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi as well as the Speaker of the National Assembly Francis Ole Kaparo.

Mr McKinnon later addressed a business forum comprising leaders who had attended a Commonwealth Secretariat-supported conference of Kenyan expatriates in London last year.

“Africa is a continent of greatly improved governance and fast-rising economic performance,” the Secretary-General told the forum.

He highlighted the Commonwealth’s role in supporting Africa’s interests in the Doha Development Round and in negotiating economic partnership agreements with the European Union.

“We are also channelling private investment into Africa through the Commonwealth Private Investment Initiative. The continent receives nearly 50 per cent of what the Commonwealth spends worldwide in technical assistance for social and economic development,” he added.

“The Commonwealth needs Africa, and Africa needs the Commonwealth.”

Mr McKinnon later spoke to nearly 1,000 students from three leading schools gathered at Alliance High School, Kikuyu, on the outskirts of Nairobi. In a lively and interactive session, students asked him probing questions about their role in promoting democracy and development.

From 25 to 27 January, the Secretary-General will be in Tanzania for discussions with political leaders. The third leg of his trip to East Africa will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he is a guest at the 8th Summit of the African Union.