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President Mwai Kibaki has traveled to New York, United States of America to attend the 65th Session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The 65th Session of UNGA will seek to examine progress made since the last session of UNGA in 2009, with a view to sharing lessons learned and exploring new areas of cooperation among UN member states. President Kibaki will be the 10th speaker when the UN assembly opens on Thursday 23rd September.
During the Assembly, President Kibaki is scheduled to attend several high level meetings including the High Level Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The meeting, which opens on Monday 20th September, will examine progress made through a review of successes, best practices, lessons learned, obstacles and opportunities and come up with concrete strategies and an action plan. On Monday 20th September, President Kibaki is listed as the 8th Head of State to address the MDGs Summit.
During the meetings, President Kibaki will also share experiences of Kenya in the attainment of a new constitution and how the new order greatly favours the Kenyan people through a groundbreaking bill of rights that guarantees all citizens access to basic and fundamental rights.
The MDGs are the world’s greatest promise to the most vulnerable people as they put humankind at the centre of development.
Kenya was among the 189 UN member states which in 2000 signed and adopted the Millennium Declaration that aims at freeing humankind from extreme poverty and improve the human condition.
Kenya has made considerable progress towards attainment of the MDGs since the signing of the Declaration in 2000.
For example, on eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, the country has implemented specific programmes to enhance reduction of poverty in the country. These include implementation of social welfare programmes such as Kazi Kwa Vijana and the Cash transfer programmes have helped to reduce the numbers of people living below the poverty line and experiencing hunger. Others include the implementation of the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) and subsidies for fertilizer and seeds which have increased agricultural productivity.
Kenya is also likely to achieve the goal on universal primary education by 2015, given the steady increase in primary schools Net Enrolment Rate from 73.7% in 2000 to 92.9% in 2009. Aided by the government’s waiver on tuition fees in public secondary schools, the primary to secondary school transition rate increased from 46.5% in 2003 to 83.2% in 2009.
HIV prevalence has also declined tremendously. For instance, the HIV prevalence (age group 15-49 years) was estimated to be 6.3% in 2009, down from 7.4% in 2007. The country has increased access to HIV and Aids management services and free anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) are now available to about 260,000 Kenyans.
The plane carrying the President and his delegation departed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly after midnight.
President Kibaki was seen off at the airport by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Chief of General Staff Gen. Jeremiah Kianga and other senior Government officials.
Last Updated on Sunday, 19 September 2010 07:24
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