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Tokyo, October 31, 2004

President Mwai Kibaki addresses kenyans living in Tokyo when he met them at the Kenyan Embassy.

President advises against tribalism

President Mwai Kibaki has urged Kenyans to shun tribalism and embrace values that will promote unity for faster development.

Noting that most countries were moving towards forming regional economic blocs to realize their economic aspirations, President Kibaki stressed that Kenyans must start thinking globally and move with the rest of the world in development.

“Some people are so busy defending tribal interests and forget that in today’s World only global citizens will remain competitive,” the President said.

The President, who is on an official visit to Japan, made the remarks today at the Kenya chancery in Tokyo where he addressed the Kenyan community in Japan.

He added that tribalism should not be allowed to curtail Kenya’s efforts to foster unity and nation building.

“It is unfortunate that there are some people who still think of tribes while what is required is thinking as a region,” the Head of State pointed out.

Stressing that peace and unity were essential for development, President Kibaki said Kenya was fully involved in the search for peace in the region.

He observed that the Government recognized that Kenya could not enjoy peace if her neighbours were affected by conflict, thus her involvement in the Somalia and Sudan peace process.

The President, at the same time, urged Kenyan students studying abroad to go back to serve the region after their studies, noting that the finalization of the Somali peace process and the integration of the East African community offered sufficient employment opportunities to the graduates.

“Sudan is a large country with enormous employment opportunities for Kenyan students. The same applies to Somalia,” the President said.

He, however, challenged them to pursue courses that were marketable globally, saying they stood to reap maximum benefit from their studies if they took courses that would make them be on a high demand not only in Africa but also in the whole World.

On Kenya’s relations with Japan, President Kibaki said the Government valued the existing good relations between the two countries and was doing everything to enhance areas of mutual benefit.

In this regard, he urged the Kenya community in Japan to be good ambassadors of their country by embracing virtues that will portray Kenya in the best way possible.

Present were First Lady Mrs. Lucy Kibaki, Ministers Ali Chirau Mwakwere, Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, Raphael Tuju, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi and Kenyan Ambassador in Japan Mr. Dennis Awori among others.

Earlier, the President accompanied by First Lady Mrs. Lucy Kibaki attended a church service at Meguro Catholic Church in Tokyo.

The sermon was delivered by Father Leo Schumacher of the Meguro parish in Tokyo.