Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday met with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region Huang Xia.
Xia briefed Uhuru, who is the facilitator of the EAC-led Nairobi Peace process, on his continued work on the Great Lakes focusing on the situation in the region.
He emphasized his readout from his consultations in London, Paris, Brussels and Moscow, and his continued talks with the regional Heads of State.
On his part, Uhuru stressed the need for support not only to the political track of the Nairobi Process but also to the military track.
He also requested support to reinforce a neutral force to buttress the political efforts.
Uhuru said the role of the regional force as an inter-positional army needs to be re-emphasised and accepted by all parties.
"The East African Regional Force (EAC-RF) must continue to enjoy the confidence of all parties if it is to be successful in its mandate," he said.
He noted that the issue of the humanitarian condition of the population in the region remains of dire concern, adding that it requires greater attention and support from the international community.
He also raised concerns about the situation of the refugees and the internally displaced people concerning their security, relocation, resettlement, and rebuilding of their lives and livelihoods.
Regarding the issue, Uhuru said there was a need for heightened attention to the refugee and IDP's track, adding that it would be the third leg of the Nairobi Process moving forward.
This track would ultimately be complimented by a development track that would embed and secure the progress achieved when peace is attained.
The leaders also discussed the challenges facing the various military quarters belonging to different armed groups, particularly about securing them and providing water, food, accommodation, and security.
Uhuru said there was a need for continued coordination between the Luanda Process and the Nairobi Process, something that is fundamental to the success and building of peace in the Eastern DRC.
The meeting also discussed the importance of limiting the diversity of engagements and mechanisms in the Eastern DRC.
This focuses on limiting new bilateral and multilateral initiatives that tend to make the situation of peacebuilding in the region complex and confusing, burdening the coordination process.
The retired president emphasised the importance of mobilizing the international community around the EAC-led Process, which is embedded with the Luanda Process as the best way forward for achieving the aims of building peace in the Eastern DRC.
Xia and Uhuru committed to continued cooperation.
Also in attendance were teams from the Special Envoy and the Office of the Facilitator led by Ambassador Machana Kamau.