Peace and stability a recipe for economic growth, meeting told

By Ally Jamah

November 18, 2010
The Standard Newspaper - Nairobi, Kenya

A country's development is not only measured in economic terms, but on its people's peace with one
another.  This, however, does not mean where there is no conflict there is peace.

Speaker after speaker at the One Nation Under God international peace convention dwelt on the
above, emphasising the need to deal with underlying issues that deny the world peace.

Presiding over the function at the KICC, Nairobi, yesterday, and with the Kenyan post-election
violence episodes still fresh in mind, President Kibaki told delegates he was committed to pushing
forward the reconciliation agenda to heal the wounds the chaos inflicted on many.

Kibaki said addressing mistrust, bitterness or animosity that may linger among Kenyans would help
secure peace and stability for the nation. "The Constitution addresses many of the challenges we
face as a nation, and its successful implementation will pay a peace dividend," said the Head of
State.

The Global Peace Convention 2010 was organised by the Global Peace Festival Foundation, which
seeks to organise humanity under the slogan: "One Family Under God".

The President urged the international community to scale-up peace efforts in Somalia and Sudan by
supporting initiatives of the Inter Governmental Authority on Development.

Global Peace Festival Foundation chairman Hyun Jin Moon said only a morally-centred leadership
would lead Kenya and the world to peace and prosperity.

"Development is not just about the economy. People must be helped to nurture their spirituality to
render selfless service in their communities," he said.

Ethiopian President Girma Wolde Giorgis said economic development was the key driver of peace,
and urged better policies to improve people’s lives. "I urge the international community to increase
effort and commitment for peace efforts in Somalia. The efforts of Somalis deserve assistance," he
said. Prime Minister Raila Odinga said peace was not just the absence of conflict and called for
renewed efforts to wrestle poverty, disease, ignorance and bad governance.

"We should not squander the enormous international goodwill we still have after we passed the new
Constitution. We should now tackle the main challenges to peace," Raila said.

The PM discouraged negative ethnicity, saying it was a threat to peace and dissipated energy that
could be useful in lifting Kenyans from poverty.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said tackling the high rate of youth unemployment was key to
opening the door to long-term stability.

The VP lamented that many a youth languished in poverty and hopelessness despite possessing
energy and valuable skills.

PDF Attachment: 

GPC11-18-10.pdf