KENYA TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO RESTORE PEACE IN SOMALIA -- PRESIDENT

NAIROBI, July 8 (NNN-KBC) -- Kenya will continue supporting efforts geared towards restoring peace in Somalia, says President Mwai Kibaki. ho notes that the growing insecurity in Somalia is a threat not only to Kenya's socio-economic progress but the whole of the East African region.Commending the decision of the African Union (AU) at the recently concluded AU summit in Sirte, Libya, to assist in resolving the Somali conflict, he said: "Kenya fully supports the African Union and IGAD's efforts geared towards the peaceful resolution of the Somali conflict,"President Kibaki, who was speaking at his Harambee House office here when he met a goodwill delegation from North Eastern Province Tuesday, said the government would increase funds for the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme in all parts of the country, including North Eastern Province, to ensure that Kenyan youth are gainfully engaged and not involved in criminal activities.The president stressed that the government was committed to ensuring equitable distribution of the Kazi Kwa Vijana funds and urged youth to take advantage of the programme to earn a living and also contribute to national development. He assured the people of North Eastern Province that he was aware of the problems facing the region and had stepped up efforts to address them.Referring to the famine which had adversely affected many people in the province, President Kibaki said the government would increase the provision of relief food to alleviate the suffering of the people while long-term measures were taken to curb the problem."Plans are underway to import more maize to cushion the peopel from the famine that has affected many parts of the country," the Head of State said. -- NNN-KBC