[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 93 (Monday, June 23, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H5669-H5671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA FOR CONDUCTING FREE AND FAIR 
          ELECTIONS AND PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY TRANSFER OF POWER

  Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 177) commending the people of the 
Republic of Kenya for conducting free and fair elections, for the 
peaceful and orderly transfer of power in their government, and for the 
continued success of democracy in their nation since that transition, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 177

       Whereas on December 27, 2002, the Republic of Kenya 
     successfully held presidential, parliamentary, and local 
     elections;
       Whereas these elections were widely praised by objective 
     international observers as free and fair;
       Whereas the Department of State stated that with these 
     elections the Kenyan people ``have made a strong 
     demonstration of their democratic commitment and established 
     an important example for the region and for the world'';
       Whereas the European Union stated that ``the overall 
     conduct of the elections constitutes an example for other 
     countries in the region'';
       Whereas these elections signal a major step forward for 
     Kenyan democracy, particularly when compared with other 
     elections held in Kenya since it became an independent state 
     in 1963;
       Whereas the transition of power put in motion by these 
     elections culminated on December 30, 2002, when former 
     President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi peaceably transferred the 
     Kenyan presidency to President Mwai Kibaki; and
       Whereas these elections and the subsequent transfer of 
     power from leader to leader represent the birth of a 
     successful new democracy in Kenya: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the people of the Republic of Kenya for 
     conducting free and fair elections, and the Government of 
     Kenya for its successful completion of a peaceful and orderly 
     transition of power;

[[Page H5670]]

       (2) expresses its desire to see this new democracy in Kenya 
     continue to thrive, as it has in the months following the 
     2002 elections;
       (3) urges other African countries to look to Kenya as an 
     example of a working democracy in action and to follow the 
     example set by the people of Kenya during this recent 
     election process;
       (4) reaffirms the friendship that exists between the people 
     of the United States and people of Kenya, as two nations 
     bound together by the shared values of democracy;
       (5) offers its commitment to working to ensure democracy is 
     able to grow and flourish as Kenya moves into the challenging 
     future that lies ahead; and
       (6) commends the Government of Kenya for its commitment and 
     concrete steps taken--
       (A) to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of 
     law;
       (B) to combat corruption;
       (C) to provide free and universal primary education;
       (D) to fight against HIV/AIDS; and
       (E) to support the United States in the war on terrorism.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Green) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green).
  Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, there are many reasons for us to agree to this 
resolution and to commend the people and the Government of Kenya. First 
and foremost, just months ago Kenya conducted historic national 
elections. Historic because they were nonviolent and free and fair. 
People of Kenya rose up and rejected a trend of unfair antidemocratic 
elections that have marred not just Kenya but far too many countries 
and elections on that continent.
  As a firsthand observer of those elections, I can testify to the 
determination that so many Kenyans and so many nongovernmental 
organizations showed in building a process for voter registration and 
voter education and ballot security that is commendable. Secondly, Mr. 
Speaker, we should commend Kenya for what those elections were all 
about. The now president, recently elected President Mwai Kibaki and 
his party won the presidency and the majority of the Kenya Parliament 
on a platform of rooting out corruption and reforming the government 
process and just as importantly offering the nation and the Kenyan 
people free primary school education. This platform was not only 
popular, obviously, but it was the right thing to do. It is a crucial 
part of a prescription for a brighter future for a country and a people 
of enormous potential. And while the new administration is young, it 
seems determined to follow through on its pledges.
  The third reason, Kenya is a crucial ally and a good friend to 
America. We have a military access agreement with the government of 
Kenya. Kenya is a staunch ally and friend even though it is located in 
a troubled region; and as we all know vividly and tragically, Kenya has 
been the site of horrible and deadly acts of terrorism aimed at Western 
interests. Just last week we praised and thanked Kenya for its handling 
of the many refugees who have fled from Kenya's troubled neighbors.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that we commend Kenya for its successful elections 
and its announced plans to attack corruption and its plans to extend 
basic education. I ask that we thank Kenya for its commitment to 
fighting terrorism shoulder to shoulder with the United States, and I 
ask that we encourage Kenya to follow through in its promising first 
steps since the administration took over. The future can be right, it 
can be bright, and it can be uplifting if they follow through on what 
they have started.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. First, I 
want to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green), my good friend 
and colleague, a distinguished member of the Committee on International 
Relations who has brought special expertise on Africa to our committee, 
for introducing this resolution which draws attention to the highly 
successful elections held recently in Kenya.
  Kenya, Mr. Speaker, has traveled a bumpy road as an emerging 
democracy and has struggled with corruption, ethnic politics and 
questionable elections. It sounds like some other countries we know. 
Yet throughout its 40 years of independence, the Kenyan people have 
kept the dream of democracy alive, strived to build strong civic 
institutions, and upheld the ideals of democracy; and now this has paid 
off.
  Mr. Speaker, Kenya is one of our strongest allies in our global war 
against terrorism, and it has paid a very high price. Many civilian 
lives were taken in the attacks on our embassy in Nairobi and a major 
tourist hotel. May I mention parenthetically, Mr. Speaker, that just 
this past weekend we were again forced to close our embassy in Nairobi, 
our new embassy because of terrorist threats.
  The Kenyan economy, which is so heavily based on tourism, has 
suffered enormously. Yet the government of Kenya remains a staunch ally 
in our global fight against terrorism, a democracy in the face of this 
vulnerability.
  Mr. Speaker, our resolution puts the U.S. Congress on record, 
supporting the people and the leaders of Kenya as they strive to build 
their democracy. They are on the right track. I hope, Mr. Speaker, that 
congressional support does not end with this resolution. Kenya 
continues to need our assistance in consolidating its democracy. The 
country needs our help in preventing future terrorist attacks and in 
rebuilding their tourism industry. I urge all of our colleagues to 
support H. Res. 177.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 177 which commends the people of the Republic of Kenya for 
conducting fair elections and maintaining a civil democracy.
  Kenya, once a nation ripe with political corruption and intertribal 
conflict, has now established itself as an embodiment of democratic 
principle. Prior to the elections held in 2002, Kenya's system of 
government was used primarily as a means through which to achieve 
personal gain rather than the development of policies designed for the 
public good. The retirement of Daniel Arap Moi, after serving as 
president for two decades, ushered in a new beginning for Kenya's quest 
for political stability and overall sustainability. While intense power 
struggles and backroom deals among various political affiliations once 
permeated Kenya's government, the fair election of President Kibaki has 
given way to nation of openness and tolerance of different political 
ideologies within the scope of a diverse nation.
  The peaceful transition of power has enabled Kenya to take on a more 
prominent position in the global community. Kenya has served an 
important role in fostering regional stability in the Horn of Africa. 
Kenya has invested a great deal of energy and resources in supporting 
the ongoing negotiations aimed at putting an end to the seemingly 
endless civil war being waged in Sudan. As the third largest economy in 
sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya has the potential to become one of the most 
influential countries in Africa.
  Today Kenya remains a high priority for U.S. foreign policy 
interests. Kenya has remained a consistent supporter of U.S. efforts to 
combat terrorism on a global scale. However the U.S. should not simply 
reduce its partnership with Kenya to that of military and security 
concerns. Rather we should use this time of political calm to expand 
our range of interest to issues of human rights, democratization, and 
economic accountability. International donor agencies continue to fund 
a wide range of programs throughout the country as it is seen as nation 
of great possibility for economic growth and development. Research 
institutions, like the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, have 
made considerable investments in Kenya's public health system. Kenya's 
peaceful democratic transition has served as a humanitarian platform 
that other countries may be able to emulate. This point in time is a 
particularly critical juncture for Kenya. It will be important for 
Kenya to maintain its newfound sense of democracy as it attempts to 
sustain both its political as well as its economic stability.
  Therefore I stand in solidarity with my colleagues in support of H. 
Res. 177 in hopes that Kenya continues along the path toward a peaceful 
democratic state.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, first I would like to thank the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for his gracious and kind words.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green) that the House suspend the

[[Page H5671]]

rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 177, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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