McKinnon meets Kenya’s Vice-President Musyoka

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon met Kenyan Vice-President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka on 4 February 2008, and repeated his deep concern at the violence which has seized the country following the election of 27 December last year.

“Kenya is a valued member of the Commonwealth family, and we are profoundly disturbed by what has been happening there. The taking of life and property must never happen again – I call on Kenya’s political leaders to come together for the sake of their people and their country,” Mr McKinnon said.

“The Government of Kenya bears a special responsibility to reach out to all parties and citizens, to ensure that peace and harmony is restored. I have been in close touch with Kenyan leaders on this matter to help find a way forward. Meanwhile we wholeheartedly endorse the process of dialogue led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.”

Mr McKinnon repeated the primacy of Kenya’s need to strengthen its democratic institutions, above all its Electoral Commission and Parliament. “The Kenyan people can expect to have faith and confidence in the institutions of democracy in their country,” he said. “The Commonwealth stands ready to draw on its expertise and experience to assist in that process.”

Mr Musyoka briefed the Secretary-General on the developments around the dialogue, and said that the Government is committed to ensuring that the talks succeed.

Mr Musyoka also expressed gratitude for the role played by the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to the elections, and in particular to the leader of the COG, former Sierra Leone President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, for initiating the dialogue process.

“The Commonwealth is a great family which cares about its members and keeps them together. We look to you to help us through this time,” said Mr Musyoka.

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: Kenya
• Commonwealth Secretary-General