Kibaki opens scouts forum

President Kibaki on Wednesday launched the first World Scouts Moot to be held on African soil.

The President, who is also the patron of the Kenya Scouts Association, encouraged the youth to exploit their talents to bring positive change to the world.

“Let no one, therefore, stop you, as young people, from bringing positive change and progress to your communities, countries and the world at large,” President Kibaki told the gathering of more than 1,600 scouts from 66 countries.

Good leaders are made

President Kibaki noted that most of Kenya’s outstanding leaders were scouts and had excelled in their leadership positions in politics, religion, business, public and private sectors.

“This is because of the firm foundation the scouting movement laid for them. We must appreciate that good leaders are made, not born,” he noted as he opened the 12-day event at the Rowallan camp in Nairobi.

President Kibaki said his government was doing everything possible to prepare the country’s youth for a responsible and productive adulthood.

The government, he said, would ensure that all the youth in the country got sound education and a fair chance in life, adding that that was why it was offering free primary education and subsidised secondary education.

“We are also offering bursaries and loans to finance higher education for needy, but deserving young people,” the President said.

He was flanked by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Chief Scout Francis ole Kaparo and Sports and Youth Affairs minister Hellen Sambili.

He urged the youth to take education seriously, set their priorities right and maintain high standards of discipline.

“As young people you must study hard and develop your skills if you are to succeed in today’s highly competitive world,” President Kibaki advised the youths.

The President also called on teachers and parents to be good role models and to ensure they mould the youth into responsible citizens.

Additional reporting by PPS