President Mwai Kibaki has said that the Government will uphold values that are dear to the people of Kenya and ensure that the forthcoming general elections are free and fair, reflecting the wishes of the Kenyan people.
He assured Kenyans that the Government was committed to a broad-based constitutional review process that will involve all parties to attain a broad national consensus through dialogue.
Saying the Government will be tabling 2 Bills in Parliament to entrench the constitution review process in the current constitution and create a framework on the way forward, the President urged members of Parliament to give impetus to the process by assigning priority to debate on these Bills, when parliament resumes next month.
Said the President: "The enactment of the Bills will pave the way for a structured debate and dialogue on this issue."
President Kibaki was speaking in Nairobi Thursday when he addressed members of the Rotary Club of Nairobi during the club's annual World Understanding and Peace Day celebrations.
Saying that at each of the turning points in the country's history, the Kenyan people rose to the occasion by binding all their leaders to a peaceful outcome, no matter the result, President Kibaki said it had enabled the country to successfully tackle difficult political transitions.
He advised Kenyans to continue seeking peaceful negotiated solutions to issues no matter how protracted or difficult the situation.
The President stated that because of the deeply held national values of peace, understanding, reconciliation, Kenya has enjoyed relative peace and stability despite the diverse ethnic, racial and religious composition of its people.
Said President Kibaki: "The result of such peace and social accord has been Kenya's greater economic, social and political growth and development, compared to other countries in the region."
In this regard, President Kibaki called on all Kenyans to join hands in making Nairobi and the country as a whole a peaceful place to live in, saying no development can be realized without peace.
"We ask all of you to join hands in ensuring peace because we want to develop and we cannot develop without peace," the Head of State said.
He went on to say that because of the country's consistent and active encouragement of the settlement of disputes through negotiations, reconciliation and arbitration, the present Government and those before it had won the trust and confidence of the neighbouring countries.
President Kibaki noted that Kenya's patience and persistence in conflict mediation and resolution efforts had resulted in two successful peace initiatives in Somalia and Sudan.
The President commended former President Daniel arap Moi, who attended today's function, for his role in seeking peace in Sudan and Somalia.
Saying that each peaceful agreement required be carefully nurtured and consolidated to enable post conflict reconstruction, President Kibaki disclosed that the Government was providing logistical support and manpower training in both Sudan and Somalia in order that peace may take root and give these countries a chance to develop and prosper.
"We are particularly interested in the demobilization and reintegration of former combatants into civilian life, and the establishment of law and order as well as effective administrative structures in both Sudan and Somalia," President Kibaki said.
He added: "We are also using our position as current chair of IGAD to lobby the international community to urgently support post-conflict reconstruction in these two countries."
Noting that Kenya's concern for peace and stability in the region extends beyond the immediate neighbours, President Kibaki said the Government is providing leadership in getting the member countries of the Great Lakes Region to commit to peace through the signing and ratification of binding protocols.
These, he added, will include a regional security framework, regional co-operation in defence and security, and measures to end the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons.
He stated that as post conflict countries make progress in reconstruction and reconciliation, stable nations like Kenya should always seek to strengthen these developments by integrating them into regional communities of stable countries.
The President said as chair of the East African Community, Kenya was foremost proponent of integrating neighbours who find peace and stability into the regional body in order to accelerate collective economic and social development.
Said President Kibaki: "I'm therefore pleased that Rwanda and Burundi, two countries that are now enjoying peace and stability after prolonged conflicts, will formally join the East African Community in June this year."
Noting that Kenya has played and will continue to play its rightful role in maintaining world peace President Kibaki said to-date the country had participated in a total of 23 peacekeeping missions around the world.
He commended the Rotary movement for its efforts in contributing towards greater peace and understanding throughout the world, noting that the Rotary Peace Scholarships are helping students including Kenyan to pursue studies on peace and conflict resolution.
During the occasion, President Kibaki who is also the patron of the Rotary Club of Nairobi was honoured by the club and presented with a certificate, a medal and a letter admitting him to the rotary's Paul Harris Fellowship in appreciation for his tangible and significant assistance to the furtherance of understanding and friendly relations among people of the world.
Other speakers included Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Service Minister Maina Kamanda, the UNEP Executive Director Mr. Achim Steiner and the chairman of the Rotary Club of Nairobi Mr. Diamond Lalji among others.
