PSCU
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
President Uhuru Kenyatta speaks with Amina Mohamed, the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, as National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi looks on during the official opening of the 32nd plenary session of the African, Caribbean and Pacific – European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly at Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi on December 19, 2016. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday urged the European Union to provide support to the African Union Mission in Somalia.
He said al-Shabaab terrorists were a threat to regional and global stability.
“More can be achieved if Amisom becomes more effective. The fight against al-Shabaab is a frontline between stability and insecurity,” he said.
Mr Kenyatta made the remarks when he opened the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly at Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.
“I urge European parliamentarians to push for the change we want to see by insisting on bolder investment in security in the Horn of Africa,” the President said. He added that there was much ACP countries and Europe could learn from Kenya and contribute to “ensuring young people are not exploited by cynical actors who utilise conflict and violence for their political and economic ends”.
The president said Kenya had pioneered an all-of-government strategy to prevent extremism, which aimed at reducing radicalisation and providing rehabilitation and disengagement from terrorist groups.
He said the government had prioritised policies and investments to ensure demographic growth turned into opportunities and not threats.
National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi said economic growth in Africa and the Caribbean was higher than the global average.