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Mombasa, December 24 , 2006

President Mwai Kibaki accompanied by First Lady Mrs. Lucy Kibaki are received by Father Josphat Nwana on arrival for a Sunday mass at the Holy Family Catholic Church Kiembeni, Mombasa.

President Kibaki cautions on pre-mature electioneering

President Mwai Kibaki said today that the country was not about to go for elections and advised Kenyans against pre-mature electioneering.

Speaking after attending Sunday mass at the Holy Family Catholic Church Kiembeni, Mombasa President Kibaki who was accompanied by First Lady Lucy Kibaki said the fact that general elections will be held in the country next year should not be reason for heightened political activity.

Said the President, “We have successfully held elections in the country every five years, and next year’s is no exception to generate anxiety this early.”

The President at the same time said the government was committed to taking the development in the country to another level, adding more resources will be pumped into the development of schools, hospitals, roads and the general infrastructure.

In this connection, President Kibaki commended tax payers for paying their taxes on time noting that the government was able to finance 93 percent of both its development and recurrent expenditure from funds generated locally.

“We have been able to attain our current level of development because of the support we get from the tax payers, and I can assure you that things will get even better as revenue collection improves,” he added.

Noting that to sustain the current level of development required an enabling environment, President Kibaki said petty politics and witchunting should not be introduced in development programmes.

On education, the President said the phenomenal success realized with the free primary education should not end at class eight. He urged parents to prepare to educate their children beyond primary schools to prepare them well for future challenges in their adult lives.

On Agriculture, President Kibaki once again expressed concern with the achievements made in that sector in coast province and urged farmers in the area to redouble their efforts to realize higher yields.

Later in the afternoon at State House Mombasa, the President and First Lady Lucy Kibaki were treated to Christmas carols by choirs from various churches and institutions in Mombasa.

The President renewed his appeal to Kenyans to forge a cohesive society saying no one single community or individual could succeed.

He said it was imperative that people from different ethnic groups in the country foster friendship amongst themselves adding enemity was self defeating and militated against national ideals.

“This country belongs to all of us and those spreading malice to advance a personal agenda should be advised that they cannot go it alone and succeed,” the President said.

President Kibaki at the same time urged Kenyans to assist the less fortunate in society and especially those living with HIV/AIDS, saying they should not be discriminated against on account of their ailment.