President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged African countries to come up with mechanisms to bridge regional gaps to unite the continent. He proposed the establishment of a continental institute to train leaders from different countries on African leadership to be in a position to advance the cause of Pan-Africanism.
The President spoke at State House, Nairobi, when he met with the Equatorial Guinea Foreign Affairs minister Agapito Mba Mokuy, who delivered a special message from President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. “Kenya is a beneficiary of African unity and would wish to host such a training facility to instil a sense of ownership on Africans to advance the continent’s agenda in other forums,” Uhuru said.
He expressed his commitment to the ideals of Pan-Africanism, which encourage the solidarity of Africans worldwide and unity – vital components to the continent’s economic, social and political progress. The President said Kenya is willing and ready to work with other African countries to ensure the African Union becomes self-financing to drive its agenda.
He said it is unfortunate that non-African financiers of the AU use the continent’s reliance on external grants to advance their agenda to Africa’s detriment. “We should not allow non-Africans to take advantage of the continent’s inability to sustain itself for their selfish interests,” Uhuru said.
He said one issue that needs urgent attention is the youth agenda, which if not adequately addressed may be a destabilising factor in the future. Uhuru urged the various AU commission organs to push the youth agenda.
Mokuy conveyed Obiang’s condolences following the death of former First Lady Lucy Kibaki, who was buried on Saturday. The talks were attended by Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohamed.