Written By:PPS, Posted: Sat, Jun 25, 2011
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| President Mwai Kibaki lays a foundation stone for the Nyanchwa SDA Church Headquarters before attending the Seventh Day Adventist Service at Gusii Stadium. |
President Mwai Kibaki has reiterated that all parts of the country shall benefit from a fair share of government initiated development projects.
Responding to requests by leaders from the Gusii community, President Kibaki agreed to the upgrading of the Kisii University College to a fully fledged University status, adding that the institution will soon be awarded a Charter.
The Head of State emphasized that one the university college is upgraded it will be in a better a position to adequately serve not only the local community but also Kenyans from other parts of the country.
President Kibaki was speaking on Friday at the Gusii Stadium in Kisii town during a resource mobilization service for development projects of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, South Kenya Conference. During the occasion over Kshs 16 million was raised for the purpose.
On infrastructure, the President said a number of roads that have been earmarked for tarmacking in the region would be done in order to unlock the huge economic potential in the area.
The first to be tarmacked will be the Kamagambo-Etago-Mogonga road which the Head of State pledged that its construction would commence in July this year.
Other roads which the President said that will be upgraded include Chebilat-Ikonge-Chabera, Metamaiywa-Gesima-Kebirigo,Gesima-Nyansiongo-Ramasha-Magombo and Suneka-Asumbi among others.
The President, at the same time, commended the role of religious organizations in the country's development.
He noted that religious organizations provided diverse services particularly in the health and education sectors where they have constructed modern facilities countrywide.
"As a nation, we greatly appreciate the contribution of church organizations like the Seventh Day Adventist church to the development of our country," the President said.
Noting that the Seventh Day Adventist Church is planning to re-construct Nyanchwa Adventist hospital, church headquarters and a guest house, President Kibaki said the initiative will ensure that the church earns money for other development programmes.
The President added that through such efforts church organizations create employment and contribute towards alleviation of poverty in the society, adding that in this way the church caters for its follower's spiritual needs as well as physical requirements.
In this regard, President Kibaki urged other potential donors, investors and partners to team up with development minded Kenyans and support churches like the Seventh Day Adventist church in undertaking such noble programmes.
"Church projects of this nature signify are a welcome break from the old days when churches were entirely dependent on donors," President Kibaki said.
The Head of State observed that the move by church towards offering a holistic service to their members by caring for the spiritual, mind and body needs has ushered in a new era of self-sustenance.
Said President Kibaki: "That creates commendable sustainability as opposed to the traditional system of depending on handouts."
Commending the Seventh Day Adventist church, President Kibaki said its work in Kenya is a great tribute to Pastor A. G. Garcallen who together with Peter Nyambu pioneered the church in Maasai and Gusii areas way back in 1906.
"These missionaries used education and health as a means of spreading the gospel leading to the emergence of key Kenyan leaders from this region," the President said.
The President also took the opportunity to congratulate the Seventh Day Adventist leadership for establishing 834 churches in the country.
Industriousness
In his remarks, Education Minister Prof. Sam Ongeri paid tribute to President Kibaki for always listening and supporting various development proposals forwarded by the Gusii Community for his attention.
On his part, Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti hailed the current peaceful co-existence between the Maasai and Abagusii communities along the Gucha/Transmara border, adding that a conducive environment for development had been created to the benefit of area residents.
Prof. Saitoti further thanked the Abagusii community for their industriousness and love for knowledge which is foundation for success.
Addressing the same congregation at the Gusii Stadium, Medical Services Minister Prof. Anyang' Nyongo said the Government would consider upgrading the Kisii Level Five Hospital to Level Six to become a referral hospital that could offer medical training.
Prof. Nyong'o also revealed that Kshs 50 million had been set aside to establish Nyamira Medical Training Centre so as to train middle level medical personnel especially nurses.
In his sermon based on book Chronicles 29: 1-9 Pastor Joel Okindo called on Kenyan leaders to selfless give offerings to God for the many blessings he has bestowed on the country and to set an example to citizens just like King David did when he reigned as the King of Israel.
Pastor Okindo emphasized that God blesses and also gives mankind an opportunity to thank him in form of donations and offerings just like King David selflessly donated huge resources for God's service and thus provoking Israelites to selflessly give offerings to God.
Leaders who addressed the congregation thanked President Kibaki for overseeing, under his leadership, the most ambitious development programmes in the country's history touching on all sectors of the economy thus improving the living standards of Kenyans.
Others who addressed the huge congregation included Nyaribari Chache MP Robert Monda and his counterparts from Kisii, Nyamira and Narok counties.
The function was also attended senior government officials, former legislators and civic leaders.
Earlier the President laid the foundation stone for the proposed ultra-modern SDA Church South Kenya Conference headquarters at Nyanchwa area of Kisii Municipality before planting a commemorative tree at the church grounds.
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