KIBAKI GONE

President Mwai Kibaki left the country Thursday afternoon for Johannesburg, South Africa to attend the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.

The plane carrying President Kibaki and his entourage departed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly after 12.00 noon.

The President was seen off at the airport by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti, Chief of General Staff Gen. Jeremiah Kianga and Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia among other senior Government officials.

Earlier, President Kibaki chaired a special Cabinet meeting ahead of this year's Budget.

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta briefed the President and members of the Cabinet on some of the highlights of the budget speech that will be presented on Thursday.