PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI'S SPEECH DURING THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF 'WAR AGAINST HIV/AIDS' AT STATE HOUSE, NAIROBI ON 23RD MARCH 2003

Leaders of faith-based-organizations;
Honourable Ministers;
Fellow Members of Parliament;
Ladies and Gentlemen;

We have gathered here to discuss the most important development challenge in the world today - HIV/AIDS, which is of great concern to Africa generally and to Kenya in particular.

It is a matter of great concern that, for us in Kenya, about 700 people die of HIV/AIDS related complications every day. It is disheartening to note that most of these are young and economically productive people upon whom the society has invested in the hope that they will participate fully in building the nation.

Ladies and gentlemen, the complexity of the AIDS pandemic transcends death. It is enormous. It causes serious social dislocation, affects all aspects of the society, lowers production in all sectors and impoverishes our communities. We cannot afford to sit back as the pandemic ravages our nation. We must mobilise our people and make them play their rightful roles in strategies and interventions aimed at reducing HIV infections.

For a long time, the fight against HIV/AIDS had been left to the Government. Everyone has now realized that we all have a role to play in the control and management of HIV/AIDS in the country. The Provincial Administration, the Ministries of Health, Education, Gender, Labour, Planning, Finance and other arms of Government have a critical role to play in prevention and education. They must spearhead this campaign to ensure that the war on HIV/AIDS is won. In order to ensure added co-ordination in Government, a Cabinet Committee on AIDS is to be established. I will be Chairman of the committee.

The faith-based organizations are an additional vehicle for delivering services and programs on HIV/AIDS. You are, on a daily basis, praying, counselling and assisting the victims of HIV/AIDS. Your vantage point enables you to assist the efforts of the Government to deliver the agreed programmes.

The National Aids Control Council must be re-energized by involving all the ministries at the highest level to oversee the programmes under my leadership. National Aids Control Council should be facilitated to mobilize resources to be channeled directly to those in need without recourse to intermediaries.
We must ensure that the programmes are demand driven so that the resources go directly to the needy for education, drugs, counselling and for the agreed pragmatic activities.

It is gratifying to note the role played by a good number of stakeholders, who have contributed to a significant decrease in the national HIV/AIDS prevalence. I want to commend all the stakeholders for the success we have recorded so far in this gallant fight. The Government, particularly, appreciates the significant role played by the religious sector and faith-based-organizations.

There is still a lot more that we must do together to achieve total victory. My Government wishes to strengthen the collaboration with religious organizations. We will provide you with resources so that from your vantage point and as an additional vehicle, you can assist the Government in this war.

Ladies and gentlemen, I know that the religious sector and its affiliated faith-based organizations command a lot of respect from your constituents. These form a strong base for inter-communication. I thank you for attending this meeting which enables us to share your experiences, discuss successes and constraints that you face in implementing HIV/AIDS activities.

I hope you will continue to influence behaviour change in Kenya in order to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS. You can be very useful in encouraging people to go for voluntary counselling and testing as the entry point for other post-test services and to assist in eradicating the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS by the public.

I assure you of total support from my Government. Together, we should be able to win this war, which should be won through mobilisation, awareness raising, and a sense of caring for our neighbours. Those affected by HIV/AIDS should not feel isolated. They should feel that their families, neighbours, communities and the country as a whole care for them.

I am convinced that this new collaborative initiative between the Government, the religious sector and other stakeholders will create a conducive environment which will enhance the control and management of HIV/AIDS in the country.

I now have the honour and pleasure to assure you that, with your support, I shall lead the campaign against HIV/AIDS from today on.

Thank you.