BY PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE
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null     1/1 NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 29 - President Mwai Kibaki left the country for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday to attend the 17th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU. The Summit which opens on Thursday under the theme "Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development" is geared towards providing a better environment and skills for African youths to excel and contribute meaningfully to peace and security, socio-economic growth and sustainable development of the continent. During the Summit, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union are expected to ratify the African Youth Charter and endorse the implementation of the medium term priorities in the plan of action for the African Youth Decade. In Kenya, the main policy documents on youths include the Kenya National Youth Policy 2007 and the Youth Employment Marshal Plan which are aligned to the country's development blueprint, Vision 2030. Under the Youth Employment Marshal Plan, the Kenyan government aims at creating 500,000 new jobs per year through initiatives, collaborations and partnerships between the public and private sectors. Through the plan, a revolving fund under the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) has facilitated entrepreneurship training, marketing of youth enterprises products and services, provision of commercial infrastructure and has also facilitated youth employment in the international labour market. Kenya, which is a signatory to the African Youth Charter, is establishing Youth Empowerment Centres in all the Constituencies. Already, 104 such centres are ready for youth to access ICT, recreational facilities, counselling and health and training in creative arts. Kenya is endeavouring to complete ratification of the African Youth Charter and is also developing indicators to monitor implementation of national youth policies. The government has committed 15 percent of its national budget to health as per Abuja-15 Declaration. Alongside the official theme of the Summit, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union will also consider and discuss the report of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on its activities in Africa. The PSC, of which Kenya is a founding member, is a standing decision-making organ for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts Africa. It is also a collective and early warning arrangement to facilitate timely and efficient response to conflicts and various crisis situations in the continent. They will discuss ways of strengthening the continent's capacity to cope with the effects of climate change and management of disasters. Majority of African countries rely heavily on their natural resource base for development hence the need for Africa to formulate policies and initiatives that will protect and maintain its environment in order to promote sustainable development. The plane carrying President Kibaki and his entourage departed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) shortly before midday. At the airport to see off the President were Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Chief of Defence Forces General Jeremiah Kianga, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere and Internal Security PS Francis Kimemia among other senior government officials. The President is accompanied by among others Internal Security Minister who is acting Foreign Affairs Minister Prof George Saitoti. Follow us on TWITTER@CapitalFM_Kenya |
Read more: http://capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews/Kibaki-off-to-AU-Summit-in-E-Guinea-13398.html#ixzz1QfPkfYfh
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