President Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, today urged Parliamentarians from the Great Lakes Region,to come up with a comprehensive and achievable road map towards conflict resolution.

The President,in a speech read on his behalf by Interior Cabinet Secretary Hon.Fred Matiangi, during the official opening of the 12th ordinary session of the Plenary Assembly of the Forum of Parliaments of the Member State of the International Conference of the Great Lakes region (FP-ICGLR),reiterated the need for a conflict free region.

"Conflict increases unemployment especially of young people;fuels sexual violence against women and girls;deepens the indignity of food insecurity and absolute poverty of populations living in areas of armed conflicts and leads to proliferation of small arms and light weapons,"he added.

The President told the assembly that a conflict free region that is responsive to the desires of its people for peace and property lies squarely on them.

"I urge you to be voices that champion for a conflict free Great Lakes region;one which is typified by peace,cohesion,social justice and realisation of the Pan-African dreams of our founding fathers,"the President said.

The Speaker of Senate Rt.Hon. Kenneth Lusaka ,who is the President of the Assembly, also reiterated that the region will not achieve much in presence of conflict.

"The Forum remains a pillar in spearheading discourse on security, peace,stability and development of the region,"he noted.

He further pointed out that the region has over the years seen its fair share of bloody wars, famine and starvation, economic and social inequalities, religious strife and political instability.

The Speaker also stressed the need for the assembly to play a central role in recovering the economy which he said has suffered immensely due to the Covid- 19 pandemic.

"The pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and structural inequalities of many african economies. Parliaments must more than ever play a central role in the recovery process,"Lusaka said.

On his part,ICGLR Secretary General ,Ambassador Onyango Kakoba said this year,the main agenda of the forum is to deal with peace and security of the region and the role of Parliament in conflict resolution.

"Peace and security are key to stability and development hence parliaments have to play their roles in resolving conflicts that hamper their attainment,"Speaker added.

The Forum brings together Member of Parliament from 12 countries of the Great Lakes region.

This year's theme is the role of Parliament in conflict resolution.

The Speaker of the Senate will officially close the five day conference tomorrow.