President William Ruto has said Kenya will back the Nairobi Peace Process to bring peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He assured the people of DRC of Kenya’s unwavering support and determination to stay the course until peace is achieved.
Peace, the President said, is a prerequisite for the region’s economic prosperity, including opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“We will enhance our bonds of purposive friendship and strategic cooperation for the mutual benefit of our people,” he said.
“Our security and progress is dependent on that of the region. The pursuit of peace is, therefore, an inevitable precondition for our prosperity.”
The President said he was encouraged by progress made in the resolution of the conflict but “closer cooperation is demanded to effectively counter emerging threats”.
He was speaking on Monday at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi County when he opened the EAC-led Nairobi Process on the restoration of peace and security in the Eastern DRC.
Present were the President of Burundi and Chairperson of the EAC Heads of State Summit Évariste Ndayishimiye and the Facilitator of the Nairobi Process former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Félix Tshisekedi (DRC), Samia Suluhu (Tanzania) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda) joined the meeting virtually.
They all committed to working together in restoring peace in DRC.