Paul Redfern
24 July 2008
Nairobi — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has praised the decision of the Government and people of Kenya to "step back from the brink" after disputed presidential election results and form a unity administration.
Speaking during a Downing Street Press conference with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Mr Brown said Kenyans had "chosen to work together" and that the UK would play its part in helping the country to rebuild.
A business round-table "Investing in Kenya" was being hosted in London to kick-start investment and development, Mr Brown said.
"We welcome the commitment to power-sharing. We welcome the strenuous efforts made by all sides to live up to the expectations of the Kenyan people and we will fulfil our promise to help with the rebuilding...
"I am convinced by my talks today that Kenya's leaders have the will and determination to take all the steps necessary and I applaud their commitment."
The historic talks between the two Prime Ministers, the first ever such meeting since Kenya became a republic, agreed that the UK and Kenya will also work together on a number of key issues.
These include combating drug trafficking operations, establishing a trade agreement in the Doha round of negotiations taking place this week in Geneva and building an East Africa stand-by brigade to encourage stability in the region.
Phone calls
Mr Brown also said that the two countries would work to "uphold democracy" in Africa and called for an end to violence against opposition MDC supporters in Zimbabwe.
Mr Odinga also thanked to Mr Brown for telephone calls to him and President Kibaki, to set off negotiations that ended in the founding of the grand coalition Government in Kenya.
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