Your Excellency, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma;
Deputy Chairperson, AU Commission
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chad and Chair of the Executive Council;
Hon. Ministers and Members of the Executive Council;
Commissioners of the African Union Commission;
Members of the Permanent Representatives Committee;
Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities;
Director General - UNON
Senior Government Officials;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Invited Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen;
1. It has been my singular honour and privilege to have hosted all of you in Nairobi for the 4th Ministerial Retreat of the
Executive Council. We the Executive Council, have in accordance with our tradition, shared views candidly on important topical issues with the intention of advancing the objectives of our Union.
2. Our continued discussions on issues of priority as well as oversight on implementation of the Agenda 2063 will undoubtedly ensure the success of this vision. The Implementation of Agenda 2063 and its inter-linkages with the United Nations Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a matter that we must constantly remain seized with.
3. Allow me Madam Chairperson, once again to express my profound gratitude and appreciation to colleagues and friends, for the solidarity and support extended to us during the period Kenyan cases were before the International Criminal Court. Clearly the support we received during the seven year experience demonstrated the importance of unanimity as a continent. This exemplifies the African Proverb, “If you want to go fast, walk alone; but if you want to walk far, walk together.” Together we will accomplish much!

4. I would also like on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kenya to express our gratitude for your kind words of comfort following the demise of our former First Lady, H.E. Mama Lucy Kibaki, who is being interned today and for the 36 people who lost their lives when a building collapsed in Huruma. May the Almighty God rest their souls in peace.

5. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and your team, I applaud you for the critical role in running the affairs of our Union and its Organs and for working towards the success of this Retreat. Let me also commend members of the Permanent Representatives Committee who relocated from Addis Ababa to Nairobi albeit for a few days, as well as Colleagues who traveled from their capitals to participate in in this Retreat. It would be remiss of me not to mention my very able colleagues who have worked tirelessly to make your stay in Nairobi and our Retreat a success. Thank you all.
Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me once again express my sincere gratitude to all of you for making the 4th Ministerial Retreat of the Executive Council a success. I look forward to meeting you in the Gambia next month for the Ministerial meeting in preparation for the TICAD VI. I extend to you a warm Kenyan welcome to Nairobi for the 14th Session of UNCTAD in July, 2016 and thereafter the 6th Summit of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in August, 2016
I will therefore bid you as we say in Kiswahili, Kwaheri ya Kuonana!,
See you soon!
A bientôt
Kaanna tama sivu
Ate breve
Araka Karibu
GOD BLESS US ALL, GOD BLESS AFRICA!
Thank you.