Kenyan communities in Unity State celebrate the independence of South Sudan

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

July 11, 2011 (BENTIU) – The head of the Kenyan community in Unity state passed on the congratulations of the Kenyans to the South Sudanese on the independence of their nation on Saturday.

Athiany David Naaman, the Kenyan representative. said that July 9 “was a great day for the people of South Sudan as it marks the first day of independence after a bitter and the longest civil war in Africa. It is the day all the marginalised South Sudanese have been longing for. Kenyans communities are happy very much especially those working in private sectors to witness the birthday of independent of South Sudan in Unity State on Saturday.

He added that many of them are aware that all these years of conflict, brought with it many forms of suffering of many innocent people who were victims of the civil war with North Sudan.

He said the Kenyans are proud of the fact that this journey towards peace started in Kenya Naivasha – where peace talks were held – and became a reality in Nairobi on the 9 January, 2005 when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed. A stipulation of the CPA was the right of the South Sudanese to vote in a plebiscite in January 2011. They voted in favour of secession, which was realised on Saturday.

Naaman drew parallels with the Mau Mau movement which successfully fought for Kenya’s independence from the UK in 1963.

He said the Kenyans, like the South Sudanese, had refused to become “victims” during long periods of conflict. He spoke of the forgiveness the Kenyan people have offered their ex-colonial masters forgiveness and are now “good friends” with the British. He expressed his hope that the South Sudanese could work towards a peaceful coexistence with North Sudan.

“Our founding fathers taught us the importance of hard work within the context of unity in diversity and we are prepared to share this with you,” said Naaman, citing “Our Founding Father of the Kenyan Nation, the Late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta”, the “Nyayo philosophy of peace, love and unity” and “our retired President Daniel Arap Moi, the ingenious architect of CPA” as examples of harambee (pulling together) which should serve as models for South Sudan.

Naaman said the Kenyans in Unity state would “appeal and pray for peace, love and unity for the people of South Sudan.”

There are is a large Kenyan workforce in developmental sectors, education and health care as well as private investment in service industries in South Sudan.

(ST)