By Uhuru Kenyatta

Following is an excerpt of a speech by the DPM at Africa Forum For Business and Security held at last Friday.

A round the world, major economies are gripped by recession and saddled with debt. Yet today, Africa finds its prospects have never been brighter. We stand on the threshold of an African Renaissance.

Seven of the world’s ten fastest growing economies are African. With the economies of the West slowed and rising costs in Asia, foreign investment in Africa has been steadily increasing and potential abounds in minerals, oil, gas, and the natural talents of our people.

And Kenya is no exception — we have extraordinary potential. We are blessed with rich natural resources, a strong and growing middle class, improving infrastructure and a well-educated workforce.

However, that potential is still not realised. While there is no doubt our nation’s potential is great we must also concede that the problems we face are equally profound. Far too many of our people are not enjoying the benefits of national success.

Negative ethnicity, religious extremism, terrorism and economic marginalisation still hobble our efforts to succeed. A gnawing sense of insecurity, fanned by youth unemployment and endemic poverty troubles our nation causing fear and uncertainty. That fear and uncertainty has turned some areas in this country into breeding grounds for hostility and aggression.

It has made some of our youth to see the false shelter of security in criminal gangs, still others have turned to drug-trafficking and robbery, while others have even become ensnared by the lies and distortions of terrorist groups.

Our common goals and hopes for the future are threatened by these persistent; common enemies. What holds us together is stronger than any conflicting interests that have ever threatened to tear us apart.

The economic uncertainty and political unrest and upheaval around the world and in Africa represent a threat to all of us. This is why the unique conditions of our time make the discussion on security ever more important and personal to all of us.

And even as we stand on common ground and forge alliances across conventional borders, it is our responsibility to spread that message of unity to all our citizens and create an environment where they can stand as one.

Keeping citizens safe is the first and paramount duty of any government. Yet terrorists attack marketplaces, bus stations and churches, yet the next drought or round of disease could destroy our people and set-off a cycle of poverty. Yet easy access to guns and knives makes recourse to violence the first choice of many for settling disputes.

Yet the forces of ethnic prejudice and religious extremism are, as we speak, spreading fear and distrust among our people, maligning Kenya’s good reputation and distracting Kenyans from confronting our fundamental problems.

Tragic incidents such as those in Tana River, and at the Coast, have made worldwide impact and are causing alarm and dismay among citizens; local leaders; entrepreneurs and foreign investors alike.

We continue to condemn the violence and stand with the families of those affected by the clashes — including the families of policemen who died trying to bring peace.

As Deputy Prime Minister; I will not stand by and watch as Kenyans divide themselves into armed camps based on ethnicity and religion.

This is why I call for a new national dialogue, a Peace Caravan if you will, that will tour every community of Kenya that has been so tragically touched by violence.

From Mombasa to Marsabit, Garissa to Nakuru, Tana River to Kisumu, elders and young people, Christian and Muslim, I want to bring together the leaders of these communities not to shout at one another, but to talk to one another. Because we must all realise that we are Kenyans first, and that unless we unite in peace, we will never fulfill our potential as a nation. As we build that sense of unity, we will undoubtedly face many challenges.

Regain lost ground

Not least next year when Kenya holds heavily contested elections. With a new constitution to implement, a devolved system to adjust to, a troubling and high level of unemployment to curb and economic growth to secure and maintain, the next elections will be critical for Kenya and now, more than ever, a credible electoral process must be ensured to avert insecurity.

The IEBC has an important role to play in pursuing this goal. But so do media, religious institutions, political leaders and every peace-loving and law-abiding Kenyan.

Our relations with other countries in East Africa must not be compromised by unrest and violence. The oil pipeline to connect Kenya and South Sudan — must not be delayed. Our efforts to counter terrorism in Somalia and ensure its citizens continue down the path of democracy and peaceful co-existence must not be undermined by conflict that often accompanies Kenyan polls.

Kenyans are rightly proud of our role as a regional leader. We are the economic powerhouse of the region, the economic hub for telecommunications and trade and an integral member of the East-African Community. We have championed further integration with our neighbours to create jobs for our citizens.

We look forward to a shared currency within the region and to more developed infrastructure and better road, rail and water networks linking all within the community. We look forward to passing all of these milestones. However, they will inevitably be delayed or even derailed if our next election descends into violence.

In 2007, we saw the economic cost that widespread poll-violence, looting and stealing had on our economy and the economy of the entire region.

This hurt our nation, which lost over Sh100 billion ($1.2b) in revenue as a result of an undermined tourism and agriculture. While we may have regained the ground we lost, we cannot afford to go back to that period.

Our friends in the wider international community can also promote peace by promoting impartiality in the elections; go out of their way to ensure that whatever the result next year, no one feels as if Kenyans have been obstructed from choosing their own leaders without pressure or interference. And they must be willing to partner with Kenya, whoever wins those to build institutions that will secure a lasting and peaceful future.

For my part I pledge that I will.

-Writer is Deputy Prime Minister.