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| Kenya army Representative with his wreath at the Commemoration |
Nairobi, 27 May 2010 (UN Information Centre) – The United Nations System in Kenya commemorated the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in a colorful ceremony that was organized by the United Nations Information Centre, Nairobi (UNIC).
In attendance was a cross section of 300 guests from the Kenyan government and defence forces, the diplomatic corps, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and the staff at the United Nations office at Nairobi (UNON).
Mr. Aeneas Chuma, the Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Kenya, delivered the UN Secretary-General’s speech. In the speech, Mr. Ban Ki-moon called upon all nations to pay tribute to the men and women who had lost their lives while serving with distinction in UN operations around the world.
Major General Maurice Otieno Oyugi, a representative of the Kenya Department of Defence noted that when the need arises everyone has an obligation to be each other’s keeper. He made reference to the fact that Kenya had lost 17 soldiers in the line of peacekeeping duty and noted that the death of these peacekeepers was not in vain. He summed up his remarks by saying, “The fallen peacekeepers are the heroes of our operations.”
Following the speeches, the guests observed two minutes of silence and four wreaths were laid in honor of all the fallen UN peacekeepers.
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was established by the UN General Assembly in 2002 to pay tribute to all men and women serving in UN peacekeeping operations for their level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.
On this occasion every year, the United Nations (UN) system around the world recognizes UN peacekeepers who have served and continue to serve in UN Peacekeeping operations around the world.
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