Uhuru holds talks with UN's Keita, Grignon on DRC peace

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday met with two UN leaders to discuss the Democratic Republic of Congo peace mission.

The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN in the DRC and head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita and the head of political affairs, François Grignon visited Uhuru in Nairobi.

Uhuru is the facilitator of the EAC-led Nairobi Process on the restoration of peace and stability in the eastern DRC.

They discussed the outcome of the facilitator's consultative meeting held on June 30 2023, in Nairobi on the cantonment matters in North Kivu.

They also reflected on the progress so far achieved and the necessary steps needed towards the realization of lasting peace and stability in the eastern part of DRC.

Uhuru convened the June 30 consultative meeting to discuss the ongoing Nairobi Peace Process aimed at establishing peace in eastern DRC. 

In April, he raised concern that the situation remained of grave concern, particularly on the humanitarian and security aspects.

"The issue of trust remains fundamental to resolving the challenge of security in the eastern DRC. Therefore, it was clear that the Nairobi Process would have to intensify its confidence-building actions," he said.

In May, however, he expressed hope that the ongoing process would bring peace to the region. 

The process has seen the deployment of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) to stabilise the war-torn eastern DRC.

The Force is expected to stay in the West African country until September 8, 2023.

This is after an extension of its tenure was agreed upon during the 21st extraordinary summit of the EAC heads of state in Bujumbura, Burundi. 

The troops from Kenya, Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan are currently in the country to help secure areas from which the M23 has withdrawn.