Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has lauded recent developments towards lasting peace in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa, saying they were encouraging.
Kibaki, whose country had enjoyed peace for many decades until December last year when the country was plunged into post-election crisis, said instability in the region had impacted negatively the country's economic stability.
"This is more because past instability in these areas has impacted negatively our country's security and economic well being," Kibaki said during the pass-out parade of police recruits late Friday.
He, however, expressed concerns that the situation in neighboring Somalia where the transitional government is battling the Islamic insurgents remained volatile.
The president, whose country mediated the protracted Somali National Reconciliation Conference, which culminated in the formation of the transitional federal government in 2005, said Islamic forces must understand that the only way to peace and prosperity for the Somali people is through dialogue and not arms.
Kibaki said Kenya has over the years stood by the people of Somalia and will be at the forefront in mobilizing regional supports for that country.
He urged the international community to play their role and honor the pledges they made towards the reconstruction of the war-torn Horn of Africa nation.
The country has been plagued by factional fighting between warlords and has not had a functioning central administration since the 1991 ouster of former ruler Mohammed Siad Barre.
Meanwhile, Kibaki said his government will continue to reform the country's security services to enhance their capacity to combat crime.
He stressed that security is a prerequisite for development and his government is committed to ensuring that it is enhanced in all parts of the country.
The president expressed concern over the increasing cases of cyber crime targeting citizens especially in the rural areas and challenged the Administration Police force to join hands with other security agents in combating such crimes.
"You are therefore expected to be well versed with these crimes that are especially targeted at our people who live in the rural areas, where modern gadgets like mobile phones are in common use and prone to abuse," he said.
Kibaki said the government will increase resources to enhance the capacity of peace and conflict resolution committees in conflict prone areas, adding that the government will continue to provide training, enhanced remuneration, adequate housing, secure communication, transport and other critical equipment to fight crimes.
He emphasized that the government will also continue to pursue a variety of strategies aimed at improving the overall security situation in the country including the continuous retrieval of all illegally held firearms.
Kibaki commended the force's efforts in enhancing security along the country's porous borders, saying the recently constituted Rural Border Patrol Unit will enhance the management of security in remote areas along the borders.
"The government will continue to support these and other initiatives to ensure cross-border crimes and other illegal activities are eliminated," he said.
Source: Xinhua
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