President Kibaki will today open the newly built Muthurwa Market were hawkers who invaded the streets of Nairobi will be based. Government spokesman Alfred Mutua said yesterday the market would help traders. At the same time, the African Development Bank pledged to give the government Sh.1.7 billion for small-scale horticulture development projects and another Sh.3.5 billion for water and sewerage support projects.
Speaking in Nyeri yesterday, President Kibaki appealed to Kenyans to be tolerant of different political views as the country nears the December 27 General Election.
President Kibaki, himself a Catholic, recalled Archbishop Kirima as a humorous person who was full of compassion.The prelate’s death will always rekindle fond memories in those who knew him and his Episcopal contributions to the church and the society.
John Cardinal Njue who conducted the Mass said the Catholic Church had lost a great man who carried out his duties with utmost dedication.“His ailment notwithstanding, I found a man who never said he was tired and only wanted to go ahead,” he said.
Later into his speech President Kibaki said: “I ask Kenyans to show the rest of the world that we practise mature and tolerant politics. Do not allow any individual or group to be harassed or discriminated against because they hold different political views from the majority in that locality.”
Kibaki called on religious leaders to guide fellow Kenyans as electioneering reaches critical stage. He said, “I appeal to leaders of all faiths and communities to rise above the temporary political passions fuelled by political competition, and play their rightful role in promoting, tolerance, reconciliation, and the common good of our nation. Let us remember that when the elections have come and gone we will continue to worship and fellowship together.”
President Kibaki yesterday wrapped his three day campaign tour of the west with an announcement of a new district to be carved out of Kakamega South. The new district will be based at Nabakholo Divisional headquarters, which compromises Lurambi constituency.
He said that he was confident of winning the election following the large crowds that attended and promised to vote for him. He also said that although campaigns were on, he would not deviate from development matters.
Kibaki said if given a second chance, his administration would be able to complete pending projects like, elecricity, roads, water, health and education.
Addressing his final rallies at Tande Secondary school in Malava constituency and Nabakholo primary school, the President urged parents to ensure that girls were given equal opportunities in school.
President Kibaki is expected to join mourners at the funeral of the late Nyeri Arch-bishop Nicodemus Kirima tomorrow. Kirima, who passed on, will be burried in a tomb inside our Lady of Consolata Cathedral Church in Nyeri town. The funeral ervice will at Ruringu Stadium in Nyeri. Former president Daniel Arap Moi, though unconfirmed, will attend the funeral. The mass service which starts at 9.30 am will be led by Cardinal John Njue.
The late bishop was born on March 3, 1936, at Karatina division in Nyeri North District. He was ordained as a priest in 1962 at 26 years of age and posted to Nyeri diocese where he served untill 27th February 1978, then appointed Bishop of Mombasa diocese.
The nearly 240,000 teachers countrywide were yesterday promised a pay rise next year, should President Kibaki win the December 27 General Election. The President announced that the Government would set up the Teachers Service Remuneration Committee to work out details of the proposed salary increase.
President Kibaki announced that the Government would set up a special committee to work on the finer details of the pay rise and other terms of service for teachers.Members of the planned Teachers Remuneration Committee are to get their appointment letters soon, and settle down to begin work early next year.
President Kibaki also assured PI teachers holding Form Six certificates that they would also be promoted if he is re-elected to the top job.
He promised more goodies for the educational sector, including giving bursaries and loans to students in polytechnics and middle-level colleges.
Apart from offering free secondary education, the Government will also waive fees paid at the pre-school level, said the Head of State.
President Kibaki spoke of additional funds to put up more day schools to smoothen the implementation of free secondary education.
President Kibaki kicked off his three-day campaign tour of Western Province with an assurance to his supporters that he was headed for victory.
He praised his government’s performance, saying it had realised a seven percent economic growth from zero in the past five years. And said he now targets 10 percent in the next 3 years if elected.
The President, who last week extensively campaigned in Rift Valley Province, told leaders from Western Province that he was sure of winning the elections. He said all the 10 parties forming PNU would be part and parcel of the new government.
He said that next Parliament’s priority would be to create more constituencies, noting that some were too large.
The President said: “The people of Rift Valley have decided; I am asking you, Western Province, to join other Kenyans in developing this beautiful land.”
He said his competitors did not know the techniques of developing the economy.
“They only say that the Government has money, without knowledge of how to create it.”
The President who was accompanied by Vice President Moody Awori, Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta and other leaders, called for peaceful campaigns, noting that one’s neighbour would remain the same after elections and they would need one another for existence.
He urged candidates running on PNU ticket and those in affiliate parties to campaign together as a win for the President would be victory for all.
President Kibaki said he intended to enable more Kenyan children access basic, secondary and tertiary education for them to be self-reliant.
He said in the health sector, much had been achieved and would ensure that more was done for affordable healthcare.
He said his plans were to see that every home is supplied with electricity for faster development of the nation.
He noted that each of the two kitties – Women Development Fund and Youth Development Fund – had enough money, ready to be spent on development of those who fall in the two categories.
The President was accompanied by Vice President Moody Awori, Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta and other leaders.
President Kibaki today begins a campaign tour of Western Province.The tour is set to begin in Kakamega Town, where he will chair a leaders’ meeting at Kakamega State Lodge at 10 am.
At 2 pm Kibaki will address a rally at Shinyalu market before proceeding to Malinya in Ikolomani constituency for another rally at 3.30 pm. He will tomorrow open the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) annual conference at Kasarani sports complex in Nairobi at 9.30 am before heading back to western in Hamisi constituency at 2 pm.
 President Mwai Kibaki hit the road for the second day of his South Rift tour with a promise that members of the community would have a greater stake in his next government.
The President who burrowed through the dusty and ragged terrain for more than 40 kilometres addressing crowds who turned up at the various spots, asked wananchi to vote for pro-PNU parliamentary candidates. The campaign rallies come barely three days after 4,000 delegates met at Kapkatet grounds and endorsed his re-election bid. The delegates were drawn from Bomet, Sotik and Bureti districts. The President created Chebunyo division in Chepalungu constituency of Bomet District. He distanced himself from the propaganda leaflets being circulated in the larger Rift Valley region saying his government was too mature to stoop that low. The president said had no time to answer critics on small matters. “I cannot talk about what my critics are saying about me. I would rather concentrate in development activity and leave the rest to answer them,” he said. President Kibaki said he was confident of winning the race in the forthcoming polls because of his development record. “We have spent all the five years and we are confident of forming the next government in which we shall accomplish the remaining bits,” said the President. He said he was the best candidate with the experience and development record, calling on voters to back him in the December 27 General Election. “I only want five years top continue serving the people of Kenya so that I return home and rest from work,” he said. He added that his competitors for the presidency were only driven by the desire to occupy State House and dismissed them as people who have failed in smaller positions. At the same time, the President announced that his government had reduced foreign aid to seven per cent. He said he was genuinely concerned about the development of the country as opposed to his competitors. The President urged people from Rift Valley to join the Party of National Unity. “You have a choice to make between development or dreamers who just want to occupy the office.” Kibaki was accompanied by Cabinet ministers Paul Sang’ ( Health) John Michuki ( International Security), Gender and Sports assistant minister Alicen Chelaite and outgoing MP Nick Salat. The President addressed gatherings at Kaptengecha, Kapkoros, Bomet Stadium, Silibwet, Chebole, Kaplong and Sotik. Later he also addressed a rally in Bomet Green stadium in Bomet district during his second day in the South Rift. |
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We are KENYANS united in recognition of the socioeconomic development and progress that Kenya has undergone over the last four years. We are not affiliated with any political party nor are we funded by any special interest groups. We know that poverty knows no political affiliation, hunger knows no political party, development is not a political party affair and security is not a political tool but a right for every Kenyan.
Our quest for returning the current government is based on personal visits to Kenya, anecdotal evidence from other Kenyans, and growth statistics; not on media sound bites or news print reports. The development in the last four years is nothing short of a miracle. We are witnesses to the transformation.
We ask like-minded Kenyans of all walks of life, gender, race, age etc to join us and take a stand. We want the current development agenda to continue as we have witnessed its success.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. WE WILL AND WE MUST SUCCEED!!
Responding to a request by the Kipkelionleaders who had asked the presidednt to name members of the community to senior positions and make Kanu a key part of the government, the president promised parties under PNU that they will be part of the nexy government if re-elected. He said that everything will be done to ensure no individual party made impossible demands at the expense of others.
He also directed the National Cereals and Produce Board to pay the farmers Ksh. 6.7 million for the produce they had delivered after this year’s harvest.
While urging the crowed to re-elect him, he said the presidency carried enormous responsibilities and required a person who was honest and dedicated.
Local leaders asked the government to elevate Londiani Forestry Training College to a constituent college of either Moi University or Egerton University. Kibaki said infrastructure at the college would be evaluated before a decision was made and that the government must contunue delivering its services despite elections. The president addressed crowds at Londiani, Kedowa and Chepseon centres and told kenyans to turn out in large numbers to vote and whoever failed to vote should not hold the government accountable.
The president promised that the government would tarmac the Fort Ternan-Londiani road as money for ths project had been set aside. He sai electrification would also be undertaken in Kedowa.
