President Kibaki calls on Kenyans to be ready for the coming elections

*”President Kibaki calls on more Kenyans to register as voters

President Mwai Kibaki has asked all illegible Kenyans to register as voters in the on going voter registration exercise.

Saying that no Kenyan should be disenfranchised on account of lack of a voting card, President Kibaki said the government had mounted a crash programme to issue identity cards to those without them to enable all illegible Kenyans to register as voters.

President Kibaki was speaking at State Lodge Eldoret today when he received a delegation of leaders from North Rift area.

He however reiterated that the general election is not due until December adding people should not be distracted from their normal activities by pre-mature electioneering.

Said President Kibaki, “The general elections will be held in December, we should therefore not raise the political temperature in the country unnecessarily this early.”

President Kibaki at the same time outlined the role of maendeleo ya wanawake in the country’s development saying that women comprised more than 50 per cent of the country’s population.

Saying that anyone ignoring women would be doing so at their own peril, President Kibaki emphasized that women should be let to play their rightful roles in the country’s development.

In this connection the President clarified that his recent directive requiring 30 per cent of all new employees in the public service be female was for all women and not only graduates.

“We have very resourceful women in this country who do not have degrees but who have excelled in academic, professional and other leadership roles, they should be given these chances,” he added.

On farming, the President said the Eldoret Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) factory will be revamped to enable it take in more milk following increased milk yields from farmers in the area.

Noting that the government had increased the producer price for milk, maize and other farm produce over the last four years, the President encouraged farmers to redouble their efforts so as to realize higher earnings.

In response to some of the issues raised by the leaders, the President said the government had intensified the rural electrification programme so as to make electricity available to most Kenyans.

He also talked of building more water points in the countryside to ensure that wananchi were able to easily access clean piped water.

On health, the President said the government was looking into the possibility of putting up a district hospital for Uasin Gishu district to ease pressure on the Moi teaching and referral hospital.

The leaders expressed their confidence in President Kibaki and the government saying in the last four years the country had realized unprecedented development due to sound leadership.

They vouched for the re-election of President Kibaki so that he can continue to serve Kenyans for another term.

Other speakers were cabinet ministers Musikari Kombo and John Michuki, the MP for Mosop John Sambu and Eldoret mayor Jonah Maiyo.”*

Lifted by Korir and published by African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no, tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525 source.statehouse.ke