Saturday, November 17, 2012
Nairobi, Kenya - Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki hailed the installation of Somalia's new cabinet Friday and announced plans to revive a government-to-government committee on bilateral cooperation. Kibaki assured the people of Somalia of Kenya’s commitment at bilateral level and in concert with other well wishers to continue playing its role towards the realization of a peaceful, secure and prosperous Somalia, according to a statement from the Presidential Press Service here.
Earlier, the President, who celebrated his 81st birthday Thursday, sent a congratulatory message to the new Somali President, the Prime Minister, parliament and the people following Tuesday's cabinet approval.
The approval of the new cabinet, the first under the current parliament, marked what President Kibaki called 'another remarkable milestone.'
In the message, the President noted that the people of Somalia achieved another remarkable milestone in their country's democratic transition.
The endorsement of the new Cabinet gives the Kenyan government an opportunity to begin earnest bilateral engagements at various levels.
The deepening of the diplomatic ties will enhance peace building and consolidation,
reconstruction, institutional and capacity building while working with other well wishers.
Kibaki called for the reactivation of the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) between Kenya and Somalia that was launched in Nairobi on 29 March, 2008, that will work as a framework for future bilateral cooperation.