Bob Menendez: “Mr. Speaker, Kenya is an important and strategic country in Africa, and it is unfortunate that our consideration of this…”

“Mr. Speaker, Kenya is an important and strategic country in Africa, and it is unfortunate that our consideration of this resolution was prompted by the violence and political instability in Kenya. I am pleased to report that since the Subcommittee on Africa held hearings on the situation in Kenya in July, the situation has improved considerably. Just this past week President Moi made noted constitutional changes to allow more room for his political opposition, and just today the date for presidential and parliamentary elections was announced: December 29. It is crucial at this juncture that the international community insist on continued progress on constitutional and legal reforms, on improvements in human rights, and on free, fair, and democratic elections. We cannot allow this opening for reform to close without cementing substantive changes.”