SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY MRS. LUCY KIBAKI, THE FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE FUNDRAISING CEREMONY IN SUPPORT OF OUR LADY OF CONSOLATA CATHOLIC CHURCH, SUGUTA MARMAR, 29TH APRIL 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to join you all today in raising funds for the extension of Suguta Marmar Parish Church. I am encouraged to note that the need to expand this Church has arisen due to the growing number of Christians in this area. This is clear testimony of the dedication of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal to preaching the gospel. I congratulate the Diocesan Priests, Missionaries and Sisters for this noble work and urge you all to uphold the same dedication.

As written in the book of Matthew chapter 28 verses 18 to 20, the primary role of the Church is the proclamation of the gospel and the making of disciples. It is, therefore, our duty to make every effort that will enable us to advance this calling. I, therefore, wish to commend the Bishop and other leaders of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal for the decision to expand this Church.

I also thank all of you gathered here for turning up in support of this project. As Christ Himself has promised, He will always be with us in all our efforts to preach the gospel and minister to the spiritual needs of His followers. I am, therefore, confident that though the Suguta Marmar Church is today a small Church, it will grow into a big congregation of believers just as the small mustard seed grows to a big tree.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you are all aware, beyond its spiritual mission, the Church is a powerful agent of development as well as social and cultural change. As we continue to preach the gospel, therefore, I would like to appeal to the evangelical community in this area to also play the role of an agent of positive social and cultural change. In this regard, I call upon the Church in this district to enlighten local communities on the need to abandon harmful cultural practices.

I single out, in particular, the need for communities to abandon the practice of female circumcision or what is also called Female Genital Mutilation. This is a harmful practice that subjects girls and women to serious health risks and even death. It is, therefore, imperative that the Church joins hands with community members in fighting this practice. Female genital mutilation is illegal in our country and I urge parents and all members of the public to prosecute offenders and save our girls from this dangerous operation.

In addition, I appeal to the Church to educate and mobilize the local community towards ending the prevalent practice of early marriages. It is sad to note that girls, as young as under fifteen, are wedded to men as old as their fathers. This practice denies many girls an opportunity to acquire education and hinders their social and economic advancement. It should not also be forgotten that when girls are married at an early age, they are not well equipped to provide proper care to their children. Moreover, such young and uneducated mothers are less likely to ensure that their children go to school. I urge parents to reject the practice of marrying off their daughters until they are of age.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

There is also need for the Church to sensitize local communities on the importance of education. The world is undergoing an enormous transformation in which only those with an education can be assured of a decent livelihood. Indeed, those without education will continue to be increasingly marginalized as the modern economy now lays emphasis on knowledge and specialized skills. All efforts must, therefore, be made to educate children to prepare them for the challenges of the modern knowledge society.
I am glad to note that the Government has recognized the important role of education and has implemented the Free Primary Education program. It is gratifying that school enrollment in Samburu District has increased by about 21.6 per cent from 20, 724 pupils in 2002 to 29, 293 pupils currently. I however note, with much concern, that there exists gender and cultural practices in parts of this district that discriminate against the education of girls. I wish to point out that education is a right and all children must be given equal opportunities. All efforts should, therefore, be made to not only increase girls? access to schooling but also to retain them in schools and to improve their performance.
Ladies and Gentlemen,

In order to succeed in ensuring all children obtain education, it is important that pastoral communities abandon migratory practices, which makes it difficult for children to attend classes. I am aware that pastoral communities move from place to place in search for water and pasture. Indeed, I am aware that water is one of the key challenges facing the people in this and other districts in the arid and semi arid parts of our country.

I am, however, happy to note that our Government is addressing this challenge as a matter of priority. As many of you have witnessed, the Government has made tremendous efforts towards ensuring that adequate water is available in all parts of the country. In Samburu District alone, for example, eight water supplies have been rehabilitated at a cost of 47 million Shillings. In addition, 12 new boreholes have been sunk at a cost of 38 million Shillings. This financial year, the District has been allocated 30 million Shillings for development of additional water projects. The measures that have been taken so far have raised the District water accessibility from 25 per cent to 39 per cent.

In view of these efforts by the Government, I would like to appeal to local communities to sustain the trend towards an agro-pastoral lifestyle. Indeed, it is encouraging to note that Samburu District, particularly the Suguta Valley, is agriculturally productive. Moreover, as the President promised during his recent visit to Maralal, the Government will open up the Suguta Valley and beef up security in order to facilitate agricultural and other commercial activities. I, therefore, call upon local communities to settle and practice mixed farming. This will enable children to go to school, improve incomes and nutrition and generally uplift the standards of living.

In conclusion, I appeal to the Church in this area to play a frontline role in promoting inter-communal harmony. I am pleased to note that meetings between the Samburu and Pokot communities have been instrumental in ensuring peace. I urge the Church to facilitate such meetings in order to foster inter-communal understanding and harmony. I also appeal to wananchi to end the practice of cattle rustling and embrace the gospel of peace and honest livelihood. It is only through these Christian virtues that we will be able to resolve differences and live peacefully.

With these remarks, it is now my pleasure to convey special greetings from His Excellency the President to the entire Catholic community of Suguta Marmar and to urge you all to donate generously towards the extension of Suguta Marmar Parish Church.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.