SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H.

, PRESIDENT
AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC
OF KENYA DURING A MEETING WITH THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
TEAM AT STATE HOUSE, NAIROBI 8TH APRIL, 2015
Excellencies,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is a great day for the Central African Republic (CAR) and for Africa. Rapid and
substantial progress has been made towards a political settlement which will restore CAR
into the community of peaceful states.

At the moment, Africa continues to demonstrate its credentials as the last great frontier of
socioeconomic promise. We are on the verge of historic take-off.

Without socio-political stability, millions of people are denied the opportunity to partake of
this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to benefit from massive development and wealth
creation.

West Africa also requires a stable region in which to trade and integrate to accelerate
progress. The strong indications that CAR is firmly on the path to peace is excellent news.
The leaders of the country must build on the understandings reached in Nairobi and
continue using brotherly dialogue to address every issue.

I thank you for the patience, understanding, restraint and commitment you have shown.
These are the hallmarks of mature leadership which can usher in progress and happiness for
the people of CAR.

I also thank you for the confidence you showed in my Government by agreeing to patiently
sit far from home for months, reaching out, working hard to inaugurate a new era of peace
for your compatriots. I thank the African Union for the confidence it showed in committing
this trust to my leadership.

It is very clear now that Africa is ready and able to fashion African solutions to African
problems. Let this be a new era of collective efforts and collective solutions in the spirit of

African solidarity. In a short time, our continent should be an island of peace. We only need
to be consistent and committed.

Let the Accords signed here be the testament of your irrevocable pledge to peaceful
progresses. Let this occasion mark the beginning of a rewarding walk to freedom, peace and
happiness for the CAR.

Let the sun of promise finally emerge from the clouds of mistrust and hostility to shine upon
the people of CAR. I thank the Secretariat which has worked effectively under the able
leadership of His Excellency Denis Sassou Nguesso for facilitating the parties to amicably
and successfully engage. I thank everyone else involved in the process, including the
technical team led by the Honourable Kenneth Marende and Retired Major-General Njuki
Mwaniki for their willingness to tackle such a delicate and complex task without flinching.

I thank all those who worked behind the scenes to enable these gentlemen abandon their
enmity and rediscover their brotherhood. You have done well.

Thank you, and God bless you.