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Kilifi, August 30, 2006

President Mwai Kibaki presents a Title deed to an elderly woman at Kilifi sports grounds in Coast Province

President reassures Kilifi district residents on land ownership

President Mwai Kibaki has reassured wananchi in Kilifi district that the Government will not stop until the problem of landlessness in the district is resolved.

He said the residents of Kilifi and Coast province as a whole had a right to own land and the Government will not allow absentee landlords to withhold land that could be used by wananchi for development.

"We will continue with the ongoing issuance of title deeds in the province until the squatter problem in the region is completely resolved. You have every right to own land and we will not allow absentee landlords to frustrate these efforts," President Kibaki told wananchi.

The President, who was accompanied by First Lady Lucy Kibaki, was addressing a mammoth public rally at Kilifi Stadium after he issued title deeds to wananchi.

On education, President Kibaki once again urged parents to ensure their children were not denied secondary school education saying the Government had eased the school fees problem at the primary school level.
He stressed that primary education was no longer enough qualification for any gainful employment in the modern Kenya thus the need to ensure Kenyan children went beyond the primary school level.

"During the eight years that you are not paying school fees, you should plan and save enough money for your children's secondary fees," the President told parents.

On development, President Kibaki said the Government was working towards reviving strategic factories in the district to improve the livelihood of residents in Kilifi district.

Citing the Kilifi Cashewnuts and the Mariakani milk scheme factories that collapsed due to mismanagement, President Kibaki said the Government is following up the issue with a view to reopening them for the benefit of wananchi.
He said the Government will also rehabilitate the road network in the district as a way of stimulating economic growth in Kilifi district, saying funds have already been set aside in the current financial year for the Mombasa-Kilifi-Malindi road among other major roads in the district.

Speaking during the occasion, Area Member of Parliament Joe Khamis commended the Government for initiating programmes that have accelerated development at the grassroots level and vowed to work with it in development.
He assured the President of that the people of Bahari constituency supported him and his Government as they have greatly benefited from the Constituency Development and Constituency Bursary funds among other development initiatives started by the Government.

Other speakers included Ministers Morris Dzoro and Kivutha Kibwana, Assistant minister Joseph Kingi and Coast PC Ernest Munyi.

Earlier when the President addressed a leaders meeting at the Kilifi Institute of Agriculture, he said the Government was committed in addressing the development challenges facing the district.

Noting that the funds the Government uses in implementing development projects mainly come from wananchi, President Kibaki said the Government will continue upholding transparency in the utilization of public funds.
In the same vein, the President urged wananchi to pay tax promptly to enable the Government implement development projects for the benefit of all Kenyans.

Present were Ministers Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Noah Wekesa, John Michuki, Suleiman Shakombo, Moses Akaranga, several assitant ministers, Members of Parliament, Mombasa acting Mayor Ali Shekue among others.