Post by Onyango Oloo on Oct 20, 2005 21:37:43 GMT 3
SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MWAI KIBAKI, C.G.H., M.P., PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE KENYATTA DAY CELEBRATIONS AT NYAYO NATIONAL STADIUM, NAIROBI, 20TH OCTOBER, 2005
SOURCE:
www.statehousekenya.go.ke/
Fellow Kenyans,
I am indeed pleased to once again join my fellow Kenyans in commemorating our national heroes day. This is an important day in which we celebrate the achievements of our patriots who fought for the independence of our country. We also remember the many modern day heroes, who have played a sterling role in the growth and development of our nation.
On this day I salute Kenyans wherever they are gathered within and outside the country. I also convey, on behalf of all Kenyans, our appreciation to our friends who have joined us in celebrating this occasion.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This year, we commemorate our national heroes day at a time when we are deliberating on a new constitutional dispensation. The national heroes whose achievements we celebrate today undertook a similar exercise at Lancaster House over 42 years ago.
As we celebrate this day, I call upon Kenyans to emulate the patriotic and selfless spirit that guided our national heroes in working out the independence constitution. We must put aside our personal ambitions and reflect soberly on the future of our country. Our aim should be the enactment of a constitution that will enable present and future generations to enjoy an enduring heritage of national stability, peace and prosperity.
As I pledged to Kenyans in 2002, the enactment of a new constitution has remained a priority of my government. In carrying out this exercise, we all wanted to see a document that reflects the wishes of the majority of Kenyans and that will protect the rights and freedoms of the people, and ensure the stability and prosperity of our nation.
Together, we have come a long way towards achieving this objective. As we conclude this exercise next month, I urge Kenyans not to allow differences of opinion on the constitution to divide them. As a social contract governing our social, economic and political intercourse, the constitution should strengthen our bonds as one people and should never be the basis for social divisions and polarization of the nation.
In this regard, I call upon leaders not to divide Kenyans, but instead provide objective and truthful leadership. I also challenge leaders to observe honesty and integrity during the on-going campaigns.
Fellow Kenyans,
The making of a new constitution is part of our collective effort to lay a firm foundation for sustainable socio-economic development and the entrenchment of the rule of law. As we deliberate on the constitution, therefore, let us also rededicate ourselves to the ideals of nation building. We remember the generation of our founding fathers for having fought for independence.
Let us strive to be remembered by future generations for building a strong economy and a vibrant democracy.
I take this opportunity to thank all Kenyans for remaining committed to our working nation in the last three years. It is as a result of their hard work that real gross domestic product expanded by 4.3 percent in 2004.
I am encouraged to note that this growth is reflected in all sectors of the economy.
In pursuing our goals of national development, my government has continued to pay close attention to those sectors where the majority of our people derive their livelihood.
In particular, my government has taken systematic measures to improve the business environment for micro and small enterprises. These enterprises contribute over 18 percent of Kenya's GDP and 72 percent of employment. The empowerment of the informal sector will therefore benefit the majority of our people and accelerate the pace of economic growth.
Through the Export Promotion Council, we have initiated further measures to enable small enterprises access external markets through business support services. In addition, we have begun reviving the Kenya Industrial Estates to enable it provide credit and business development services to micro and small enterprises.
To further strengthen the informal sector, public Universities as well as other public post-secondary school training institutions have introduced entrepreneurship programmes targeted at micro and small businesses. I challenge those engaged in micro and small enterprises to take advantage of the training opportunities available in order to improve their businesses and become more competitive.
Fellow Kenyans,
I am aware that the lack of adequate infrastructure is a major constraint facing informal sector operators. My government is, therefore, reviving infrastructural projects across the country that had stalled. Once completed, the facilities will provide worksites and common amenities including water and electric power.
In addition, my government is committed to improving the living and working conditions in our urban areas. As part of this commitment, I initiated the slum-upgrading programme in October last year. This prgramme is intended to upgrade the living environment of slum residents by providing basic services such as shelter, health, security, employment and income generation opportunities.
The programme will also regularize tenure of ownership and provide infrastructural services such as access roads, water supply, sewerage, refuse collection, street lighting, schools, markets, sites for small enterprises, social halls and playing grounds. This programme is being piloted in Kibera slums and will be rolled out to other urban areas throughout the country.
Every citizen of Kenya has a right to live in a secure, clean and well-planned environment. To this end, the National Housing Corporation will now focus more on provision of cheap rental houses as a way of addressing the housing problems being faced by workers and especially by Kenyans living in slums.
Besides the informal sector, my government has continued to implement measures to support agriculture, which is the main source of livelihood for majority of our people. In the current budget, my government has sought to empower our farmers by introducing tax concessions and policy reforms. Further, my government is committed to doubling the share of government resources to this sector in the next three years.
In particular, my Government recognises the critical role played by co-operatives in empowering farmers. For this reason, my Government has introduced reforms to ensure an enabling policy and legal environment for the growth of a vibrant and self-sustaining co-operative movement.
In the dairy sub-sector, my Government has revived the New Kenya Co-operative Creameries. Since its revival, producer prices for milk have increased substantially. This has improved incomes for dairy farmers. We have also increased and stabilized payments to maize and wheat farmers, while sugarcane farmers are now receiving prompt payment for their produce.
With regard to land, the government has finalised the modalities of implementing the recommendations contained in the Report on Illegal and Irregular Allocation of Public Land. In the meantime, the government has initiated some of the most ambitious land and settlements reforms in our history.
In the Coast Province, for example, the government has established a total of 76 Settlement Schemes covering over 230,000 hectares of land and settled 64,600 families. In the Rift Valley we have begun resettling families evicted from the Mau forest. The award of title deeds to members of the Ogiek community is also part of the government's efforts to streamline land matters in the country.
I urge leaders not to politicise land matters, and instead to support the government's efforts in helping the landless to acquire land. It is the right of Kenyans to own land.
With respect to water, the government has increased investment in the water sector five-fold from 2.3 billion Kenya Shillings three years ago to 10.4 billion Kenya shillings in the current financial year. We have also established the Water Services Trust Fund to support water schemes that help the rural and urban poor to access water.
In regard to arid and semi arid areas, we have allocated 1.5 billion Kenya shillings for rehabilitation and construction of boreholes and water pans. These measures are intended to improve access to water, especially by rural communities.
We are also supporting livestock farmers through enhanced disease control measures and improved marketing of livestock products.
Over the past year, the government has established disease free zones at the Coast. We have already begun exporting thousands of livestock to overseas markets.
My government will continue with its programme of supporting our livestock farmers by rehabilitating disease control infrastructure in various parts of the country and promoting the development of abattoirs in the main livestock production areas. In regard to processed meat products for export my Government has re-possessed the assets of the Kenya Meat Commission to address this crucial market outlet.
The revival of Kenya Meat Commission will not only contribute to Kenya's exports, but also provide employment and enhance the incomes of livestock farmers.
Fellow Kenyans,
The development of infrastructure is critical to the growth of the economy.
Over the last three years, we have engaged in the rehabilitation and gravelling works of 1,233 kilometres of roads. In the last financial year alone, 35 road construction projects worth 23 billion Kenya Shillings were awarded. We will continue allocating more resources to this vital sector. In addition, the Government remains committed to improving road safety, security and comfort of passengers.
Fellow Kenyans,
Information and communications technology is an important aspect of infrastructure. Indeed, while the economies of the 19th and 20th centuries, were driven by networks of railways and highways, modern economies are being driven by networks of digital highways.
Economic growth is today driven by the knowledge and service-based sectors, where ease of information transactions is a key determinant of success.
My Government recognizes this global trend and has initiated measures to create a modern and efficient telecommunications infrastructure in order to position Kenya as a hub of industrial, commercial, financial and I.C.T. services in the region.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our youth are the hope of this nation. I am aware that our youth are facing numerous challenges especially with regard to employment opportunities due to many years of neglect of the economy. We are addressing this situation through revitalization of the economy that has resulted in improved prospects for growth.
The 4.3 percent economic growth achieved last year has given us confidence that we are moving on the right path. This year, the indications are that we shall achieve an economic growth rate exceeding 5 percent. This means that more jobs are being created in every sector of our economy.
However, we need to make deliberate efforts to open ways for the youth to play a more active role in the development of our country. This is the only way they can accumulate the necessary experience to assume leadership roles.
In this regard, I am pleased to note that the Proposed New Constitution addresses the plight of the youth and removes barriers that are hindering the youth from realization their full potential in fulfilling their dreams. I am glad to note that we have recorded remarkable achievements in educating our young people. Primary school enrolment has increased tremendously since the introduction of the Free Primary Education Programme. There is no greater investment that a nation can make than that of educating its young people. In order to provide our young people with equal opportunities for education, my government has targeted resources to disadvantaged areas. We have also introduced bursary schemes for poor children in secondary schools.
In recognition of the importance of literacy in information and communication technologies, I recently officially launched the pilot NEPAD e-schools project in Isiolo. This is an initial step towards the integration of Information and communication technology in our mainstream education system. This programme will be rolled out to other schools throughout the country.
With regard to women, we should recognize the role played by Women in the development and well-being of this nation. Wherever I go in this country, I see women at the center of social and economic activities. On daily basis, women are managing our farms and are actively involved in business and providing services in education, health and other public and private sectors.
Over the years, women have not ascended to positions of leadership commensurate with their numbers, skills and contribution to the development of this country. I am encouraged by the fact that the proposed constitution addresses the issue of gender equality and equity so as to correct the imbalance which has developed over years and which has discriminated against women. This is a major step for a forward-looking nation.
Fellow Kenyans,
This is the first time in the history of this country that the people of Kenya will be participating in a referendum. Referendums are an expression of the highest level of people participation in a democratic process.
Referendums do not happen all the time because they deal with issues of extraordinary importance to a country. They are also conducted in countries that have achieved high levels of democracy.
On 21st of November, we shall all be participating in a historical referendum to decide whether we adopt the Proposed New constitution or remain with the current constitution.
Fifteen years ago, we embarked on a journey to write a new constitution which truly reflects our collective aspirations of freedom, justice and prosperity for all. A constitution is a document that is drawn out of compromise and consensus because a lot of interests have to be balanced. Real democracy is about accommodation of the broader interests of all the citizens.
We are at a historical milestone and we should all be proud to be participating in this process. Therefore, it is important that we go through this referendum process peacefully and with dignity. Let us, as I have repeatedly stated, study and appreciate the content of the Proposed New Constitution and its contribution to our lives and the peace and development our country.
The Government has made a major effort to make the proposed constitution available to all of you. This will enable you to check and cross-check what some people are telling you because some may be out to mislead you. I urge you to make your decision, not based on hearsay or speculation, but on your own understanding of the meaning and the benefits of the new constitution.
Finally, we now have a unique opportunity to entrench our nationhood through the Proposed New Constitution.
I call on all of you to come out and express your democratic right so as to pull ourselves out of the past, in the spirit of reconciliation and move forward to build a new Kenya. In this regard, and in order to ensure that all Kenyans get an opportunity to express their will through the referendum, the Government has declared November 21st, a public holiday.
Thank You and God Bless You All.
