Kiyapi launches his presidential bid

Written By:George Kithuka/Sylvester Ruto,    Posted: Sun, Apr 22, 2012

The former civil servant is determined to go the full hog after ignoring calls to vie for a governor’s position Professor James ole Kiyapi has formally launched his presidential bid six days after resigning as education permanent secretary promising to transform the country if elected as the country's president for the benefit of a common man. The immediate education Permanent secretary used the platform held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) grounds Sunday afternoon to launch his new Restore and Build Kenya party RBK. Prof. Kiyiapi who resigned last Monday and officially handed over his Office on Friday says he will vie for the presidency on a Restore and Build Kenya Party Ticket. The former PS assured Kenyans that he is in the race to the end and urged them to consider him as a serious presidential candidate. Kiyiapi said that he entered in the race in order to get a better chance to serve Kenyans as their head of state. He said that he will soon embark on a countrywide campaign to popularize his party and his presidential bid. He called on Kenyans to remain united and not to allow to be divided by politicians out to divide them along their political lines. At the ceremony Prof Kiyapi who has been in the  civil service for the last 20 years told Kenyans that the time has come for Kenyans to change the country's style of leadership. Kiyapi says it was ironical that almost 50 years after independence the country is still battling food insecurity, extreme poverty and illiteracy due to what he attributed to lack of focused leadership. The 51 year old Kiyapi who will be seeking the country's CEO job on RBK party observed that Kenya has unlimited potential in terms of natural and human resources but the nation's wealth has benefitted a few leaving the masses in abject poverty a vice he would work to change if elected. Those who addressed the gathering termed Kiyapi as a visionary leaders who the country cannot wait to endorse. Kiyapi becomes the fourth presidential hopeful to formally roll out his campaigns after Narc-Kenya's Martha Karua, Raphael Tuju and Cyrus Jirongo. Professor Kiyaipi will now have to crisscross the country to sell his policies in an attempt to convince Kenyans to vote him in come the ballot day. Elsewhere, a section of church leaders have called on the church to preach peace and national cohesion to the public as the country goes to the next general elections. The church leaders say that church has a critical role to play in ensuring that the country is not divided on tribal politics that can prompt chaos. Speaking in Nairobi Sunday the Church leaders led by Oasis of Grace bishop George Kamunya cautioned the church against taking side on politics in order to avoid split of the church as it was experienced in 2007 general elections. Bishop Kamunya at the same time called on Kenyans to avoid tribal grouping politics that is emerging in the country saying that such groupings will divide the country. Kamunya urged Kenyans to support candidates and political parties that has the best interest of the nation. He at the same time condemned the recent meeting organized by the anti-Gema and Kamatusa meeting in Limuru saying that such organizations poses threat to the national security. He called on the government to ensure that  there is no emergency of rival groupings that could cause violence  ahead of the next general election.