Guests at State House Mombasa dance as they ursher-in and celebrate the new year 2010.
Mombasa, December 31, 2009

A new Constitution must form the foundation for a peaceful and united country, says President Kibaki

President Mwai Kibaki has underscored the need for the new constitution to be presented during the forthcoming referendum to lay a firm foundation for a peaceful and united country.

In his New Year message to the Nation from State House, Mombasa President Kibaki asserted that while the constitutional review process has in the past been divisive the final outcome must lay the basis for a modern and prosperous nation.

The President urged the Committee of Experts on the Constitution review to carefully and devotedly harmonize a multitude of views that were recently submitted by the Kenyan public in order to produce a document that captures the desires and aspirations of a majority Kenyans.

He acknowledged, "They must now carefully and prudently harmonise these views. Kenyans expect that the final product will be a unifying document that reflects the will of a majority of the people."

During the colourful occasion, the Head of State urged Kenyans to fully support the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission whose public hearings begin in the New Year.

He urged Kenyans to volunteer their views freely as the nation geared towards national healing and reconciliation which he termed as vital ingredients for a country's stability and development.

The President acknowledged, "I also note that the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission will begin its public hearings this year. I appeal to Kenyans to give their views freely."


With regard to the challenges that afflicted the country during the past year, President Kibaki termed the New Year a period of great promise and one that ushers in hope and prosperity for the citizens.

He termed the just ended year as one of the most challenging in the recent history of the country where high food prices and prolonged drought threatened the livelihood of many Kenyans.

"We thank God for enabling us to deal with the various issues that we faced. Indeed we have fared much better than was expected and emerged an even stronger nation and people," noted the President.

In order to overcome the challenges President Kibaki outlined comprehensive measures instituted by the Government in order to eradicate unemployment, mitigate effects of prolonged drought and food insecurity in the country.

The Head of Sate noted, "As we enter the New Year, we must continue the path we have embarked on, in getting long term interventions that will guarantee food security and reduce reliance on rain fed agriculture. So far we have placed under irrigation an extra 40,000 hectares of land. We have also revived several irrigation projects around the country."

With regard to unemployment the President affirmed that the Government had stepped up measures to rejuvenate the economy in order to generate enough jobs for the youthful population and improve the living standards of disadvantaged members of the society.

The President assured, "Creating opportunities for our youthful population is a priority in the New Year. We must therefore step up measures to rejuvenate the economy in order to generate much needed jobs and improve living standards especially among the most vulnerable members of our society."

The President assured, "To further rejuvenate the economy, we will step up implementation of flagship projects outlined in VISION TWENTY THIRTY. Focus will be on the productive sectors that need revamped infrastructure to thrive. In particular I am confident that we are now ready to begin works on Kenya's second transport corridor linking us to Southern Sudan and Ethiopia and a new port at Lamu."


On education, President Kibaki warned that stern and decisive action will be taken against any individual found to have misappropriated funds meant to benefit Kenyan children.

Thanking teachers, parents, pupils and well wishers for the success of the free primary education, the President assured that the future of the programme is secure and would continue uninterrupted.

The President said he was happy to note that the first batch of pupils who had fully benefitted from free primary education will be joining class 8 this January.

With regard to security President Kibaki urged wananchi to embrace the community policing strategy to supplement government's efforts to creating a safe environment which he termed a key pillar for the country's development.

He declared that security agencies in the country would intensify border patrols to curtail influx of illegal arms and criminals while operations to mop up illegal weapons in the country would continue.

With regard to environment, President Kibaki the Government had established a National Climate Change Response Strategy as part of other measures instituted to combat climate change among other climatic extremes of drought and flooding.

He urged every citizen to commit to environmental conservation particularly water harvesting and prudent utilization of available water resources and termed the New Year the "Green Year for Kenya."

President said, "In this regard more emphasis will be placed on energy production via green pathways including geothermal and wind energy. We will also begin an ambitious plan of planting trees and get our forest cover to ten percent."

On regional matters the President said that in order for Kenyans to take full advantage of the East African Common Market Protocol scheduled to take effect on 1st July 2010, he directed the ministry of East African Community to undertake aggressive campaigns to educate wananchi on the benefits of the common market.

President Kibaki told Kenyans to embrace the East African mentality and seek opportunities that the common market was bound to create.

He said, "The onset of the common market implies that there will be free movement of labour, goods and services across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi."

At the New Year festivities President Kibaki was accompanied by the First Lady Mama Lucy Kibaki.

On his part Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka declared that the forthcoming referendum for the new constitution Kenyans avoid divisions and instead must build consensus in order to achieve a document that serves current and future generations impartially.

Noting that Kenya is not an island and was vulnerable to international events, Mr Kalonzo thanked President Kibaki and Kenyans in general for remaining steadfast despite various challenges afflicting the country particularly the global economic meltdown and prolonged drought.

He noted that the global economic recession had reduced the amount of remittances to the country from Kenyans working abroad to their relatives while the drought had made many households in the country food insecure.

The Vice-President, however, expressed optimism that although the amount of rainfall predicted during the short season was less, he noted that it would ensure that farmers harvested some modest farm produce.

He affirmed that Kenyans firmly supported President Kibaki in his efforts to build a prosperous and harmonious nation and to restore the glory of the nation in the community of nations.

The New Year celebrations party was attended by several cabinet ministers, assistant ministers, senior government officials and wananchi from all walks of life.

Entertainment during the colourful festivities was provided by several choirs and dancing troupes among them maroon commandos, Utumishi Jazz Band, Moi University Choir and a mega choir composed of several parastatals among others.


 
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