Download remarks by the high commissioner of kenya to south africa amb

REMARKS BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER OF KENYA TO SOUTH AFRICA AMB.
PATRICK WAMOTO AT A RECEPTION TO MARK THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF
KENYA’S INDEPENDENCE (JAMHURI DAY) ON 28TH JANUARY, 2014 AT
PRETORIA COUNTRY CLUB.
Hon. Makhotso Maggie Sotyu, Deputy Minister of Police,
Coun. Kgosientso Ramakgopa, Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane,
Senior Officials of the South African Government,
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Amb. Ben Mpoko,
Excellencies Ambassadors & High Commissioners, Heads of International
Organizations, Leaders of the Bussiness Community, Distinguished Guests,
Fellow Kenyans, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a matter of great honour and privilege to welcome you all to this
celebration of Kenya’s 50 years of independence. The celebration should have
been held on 12th December 2013 but as you all know, tragedy struck just
before then with the demise of the father of free South Africa Nelson Mandela.
We therefore called off the celebration as a mark of respect for Tata, and in
solidarity with the people of South Africa.
Madiba, as we all affectionately called him was a special person. He was a rare
politician reposed with integrity and honour, and perhaps the greatest
champion of human dignity and freedom in recent living memory. It is
therefore befitting that before I make my remarks, we all observe a minute of
silence in honour of this great son of Africa.
(Silence)
We pray that the Almighty God forever rest his soul in everlasting peace.
As we celebrate this memorable day in Kenya’s history, it is also proper that we
remember those Pan-Africanists whose sacrifice liberated our continent.
Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere, Patrice Lumumba, Ahmed
Ben Bella , Gamal Abdel Nasser, Walter Sisulu, Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo and
of course Nelson Mandela. These were great visionaries whose ideas continue
to shape the future of our continent.
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I very warmly welcome all friends of Kenya who have found time to join us
today. And to my fellow Kenyans, I say congratulations on reaching this
important milestone in our history, and for remaining resilient as ever and as
determined as marathon runners.
Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the 12th of December, 1963 Kenya became an independent nation. The
hopes and dreams of Kenyans were immense and the future full of promise.
With patriotism and pragmatism, our founding fathers embarked on a course
for the greatness of our country. Today, more than ever before, we know what
it means to be a Kenyan and we are proud to be Kenyans.
For 50 years we have charted our own course as an independent nation, ever
steadfast in our commitment to our values that are well spelt out in our
national anthem, and best summed up in our national slogan – Harambee,
meaning let’s pull together.
As a nation born out of the struggle against oppression and our love for
liberty, and with boundless faith in our destiny, we have in the last 50 years
proven our ability to determine the direction best suited to the needs of our
country. We therefore have every reason to celebrate the golden Jubilee of our
independence under a Jubilee government.
And we even have a greater cause to look forward to a brighter future because
we have learnt lessons from our history. As Chinua Achebe famously wrote in
his book Ant Hills of the Savannah, “it is the story that saves our progeny from
blundering like beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence”.
The lessons of our story propelled us to a new constitution in 2010 and
ushered in a new phase for our country. Gladly, that Constitution borrows
heavily from the Constitution of South Africa, which means our two countries
have a lot in common.
This is therefore an occasion for the people of Kenya to pause and appreciate
who they are, what they have, and to reflect on the encouraging possibilities.
As a country, we have recorded phenomenal success in a number of areas.
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 At home, the economy is growing at over 5%, financial inclusion is
advancing rapidly with mobile banking providing services to millions
who have never before had access to banking, the middle class is
about the fastest growing in Africa, foreign investment flows have
risen and boosted the stock market, and more accountable
management of public resources has allowed the government to
accelerate the upgrade of its energy and transportation
infrastructure.
 Looking forward, during the next five years, the government intends
to deliver accelerated and inclusive growth, higher standards of
living, better education and health care, increased job opportunities
especially for the youth and women, commercialized agriculture
providing higher rural incomes and affordable food, an improved
manufacturing sector and diversified exports. We are moving steadily
towards realization of our Vision 2030.
 We are also focusing on two new key national initiatives namely oil
and minerals. And here in lies tremendous potential for enhanced
Kenya-South Africa cooperation.
 In matters of peace and security, our forces have helped liberate
Somalia. And we continue to play a defining role in helping overcome
the internal challenges facing our neighbour South Sudan.
 We are also working with other countries, including South Africa,
within the framework of the ICGLR to bring peace, stability and
development in the Great Lakes region.
 On matters of regional integration, we are working with partners in
the region, i.e. EAC and COMESA to address the problem of market
fragmentation to help producers in our region to have a bigger
market to which they can sell their produce
 And outside politics and economics, we have shown great prowess in
the world of sport as evident by the outstanding performance of our
athletes.
So today, let us stand proudly on the shoulders of those who founded our
nation and who continue to fortify us.
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Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we celebrate 50 years of independence, we also join the people of South
Africa in celebrating their 20 years of freedom this year as well as 20 years of
solid Kenya – South Africa bilateral ties.
We have enjoyed a very warm and cordial relationship since 1994 when our
two countries established diplomatic relations. The relationship has grown by
leaps and bounds as evidenced by the intense interaction between our two
countries.
Bilateral trade and economic cooperation between our two countries
continues to thrive with South African ranking as the No. 1 source country of
tourists from the African continent to Kenya, the second largest source of
foreign direct investment into Kenya, and the 5th largest source of Kenyan
imports after the EU, China, UAE and India.
At the global level, our two countries continue to consult and share common
positions on matters of international concern such as the Doha Development
Agenda negotiations, UN Reform, the conflict in Syria, and international
criminal justice. At the continental level, it is the ambition of both our
countries to promote Pan Africanism and African Renaissance through
increased intra-African trade whose realization is anchored on successful
negotiations and conclusion of the envisaged Grand free trade area involving
COMESA, SADC and EAC.
The Government of Kenya recognizes that robust intra-African trade cannot be
realized in the absence of sound infrastructure, and it is for this reason that we
are working with our neighbours on very ambitious infrastructure projects to
open up Eastern and Central Africa. These projects once complete are
expected to compliment other continental infrastructure projects, particularly
those under SADC.
As Kenya celebrates her 50 years of independence, the African Union is also
celebrating its 50th anniversary. The vision of the founders of the AU was to
realize political, social and economic integration as a means of achieving
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prosperity, peace and growth. Considerable progress has been made towards
regional and continental integration but a lot remains to be done.
At our independence day parade in Nairobi on 12th December, 2013 President
Uhuru Kenyatta announced a number of initiatives to deepen integration as a
sign of commitment to our continent.
These include, amongst others, issuance of visas on arrival for all African
passport holders visiting Kenya for a period of up to six months on the basis of
reciprocity. We have no doubt that this will help enhance the pace of removing
some of the barriers that hinder intra-African trade and investment.
In conclusion, let me say how happy I am that thousands of Kenyan nationals
reside in South Africa peacefully and happily. I therefore take this opportunity
to thank the Government of South Africa for the hospitality accorded to our
nationals. I believe that most if not all are men and women of integrity and
good character, and that they are positively contributing to the development
of both our two countries. Allow me therefore to say a few words to my
Kenyan compatriots in our Kiswahili language.
Wakenya wenzangu. Tunasherekea miaka hamsini ya uhuru. Lakini tujiulize,
tutawacha urithi upi kwa miaka hamsini ijayo ?
Watoto
wetu
watatuhukumu kivipi ? Tutashindwa ama tutasifiwa kama watu wenye
maono na busara, ambao walijali maslahi ya kizazi kijacho ? Lazima tujitahidi
kutekeleza urithi wa viongozi waanzilishi wa taifa letu. Tunaposherekea
miaka hamsini ya uhuru, tusimame pamoja kwa ujasiri, kujiamini, na
matumaini ya siku zijazo. Tujitahidi vilivyo katika utumishi kwa inchi yetu, na
tuishi kulingana na alama ya maadhimisho ya Jubilee – pamoja twasonga
mbele. Asanteni. Mungu awabariki na aibariki nchi yetu ya Kenya.
Finally, let me thank all those who have made this celebration possible,
especially Pretoria Country Club who have so kindly allowed us to use this
venue. Let me also acknowledge the hard work of my colleagues at the Mission
under the stewardship of my able deputy.
I wish you all an afternoon of much celebration as we reflect on the road that
we have travelled this far together.
I thank you.
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