'Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation: Building a Progressive Kenya'
Nairobi, 5 December 2011 – Delegates from across Kenya and from around the world have been meeting in Nairobi, Kenya for the 'Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation: Building a Progressive Kenya'.
The first day of the conference featured panel discussions on ‘Living by our Constitution’ and ‘One Kenya, One People’, and keynote speeches by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Graça Machel, member of the African Union Panel of Eminent African Personalities.
H.E. Kofi Annan and Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressed the opening ceremony.
Mr Annan said: "Every Kenyan has a role to play in building a progressive Kenya. Each of you must now commit to playing your role in securing the future that the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation process envisaged."
Opening the afternoon session, Mrs Machel said: “Your new constitution, with its groundbreaking Bill of Rights, is a testament to your resilience and resolve as a nation....The process of reconciliation and building one national identity is the fundamental foundation that must guide Kenya on a long journey to achieve lasting peace, development and social justice.”
The conference has been convened by the African Union Panel of Eminent Personalities and the Kofi Annan Foundation to promote a national discussion around what is required to build and sustain a progressive Kenya.
Members of the public are interacting with the participants via social media platforms and a dedicated live feed on www.kndr.co.ke.
The conference concludes on Tuesday, with two further panel discussions focusing on the electoral process and the integrity of public institutions, and keynote speeches from Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende, and Johann Kriegler, Chairperson of the former Independent Review Commission.
Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania and member of the AU Panel, will give the closing speech.
Concluding press conference
Members of the media are warmly invited to a concluding press conference with Mr Annan to be held at 5pm on Tuesday 6 December at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Members of the media who would like to attend and who are not already accredited at the conference are requested to send an email to Alfred Otieno, alfred@ginadin.com by 1500 EAT on Tuesday 6 December with their full details.
Contacts
For further information on substantive issues around the ‘The Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation: Building a progressive Kenya”, Please contact Robert Watkinson, KNDR III Spokesperson, robert.watkinson@portland-communications.com, +254 (0) 739 728 375
For media enquiries please contact, Menya Mwambeu +254 722 497220 or menya@ginadin.com or Francis Ochieng, +254 721 237 918 francis@ginadin.com ; or Alfred Otieno +254 722 781 430 alfred@ginadin.com.
Note to Editors
For updates and comments, visit;
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Conference programme: http://kndr.co.ke/downloads/Annotated_Agenda.pdf
Background Note: http://kndr.co.ke/downloads/Background-Note.pdf
Biographical Notes of speakers: http://kndr.co.ke/downloads/Biographical%20Note.pdf
Views of key stakeholders: http://kndr.co.ke/downloads/THE-KENYA-NATIONAL-DIALOGUE-AND-RECONCILIATION.pdf
For media inquiries please contact:
Diana Jackson
Main: +44 (0)20 7842 0123
Direct: +44 (0)20 7842 0151
Mobile: +44 (0)7904 752736
E-mail: diana.jackson@portlandpr.co.uk