1. Today I had the honour and great privilege to present Letters of Credence from His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya to His Excellency Brahim Ghali accrediting me as the Ambassador Extra-Ordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kenya to the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. There is no great honour than one being chosen to represent their country in another country.
2. Today is a historic moment indeed in the sense that this is the first time the Republic of Kenya has accredited an Ambassador to the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic even though with Residence in Algiers.
3. However, I must point out that this is not the first time that the Republic of Kenya is engaging with the Sahrawi Republic. In the past we have had continuous official contacts between Kenya and Sahrawi authorities up to the highest level. I am pleased to note that the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic maintains Diplomatic Representation in Nairobi.
4. The Republic of Kenya has always stood in solidarity with the Sahrawi people in their quest for independence. Kenya’s position on the question of Western Sahara is predicated on the fact that Kenya as a country owes its existence to a large extent on the principle of self-determination of peoples as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. We have a historical parallel with the people of Sahrawi and we stand with them.
5. We are strongly convinced that by virtue of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, all peoples have the right to freely determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. As believers of a rules based international system, we observe this principle.
6. The Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among states in accordance with the UN Charter is very clear on the matter of equal rights and self-determination and it will remain our guiding light in our relations with Western Sahara.
7. Further, the relations between Kenya and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic are guided by the African Union position that Western Sahara is a Member State. Currently, Kenya is a representative of the African Union at the United Nations Security Council and as such is obligated to advance peace and security which includes the resolution of the of the long-standing question of Western Sahara. This is a responsibility that Kenya will endeavour to deliver to the people of Africa including the Sahrawi.

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, ALGIERS.
20TH MAY, 2022