I am not endorsing anyone, declares Kibaki

I am not endorsing anyone, declares Kibaki Written By:Margaret Kalekye/PPS,    Posted: Mon, Jul 23, 2012

Kibaki said individual efforts and development record will determine their success in the forthcoming general elections. President Kibaki has thrown a spanner into the succession politics by declaring he will not be endorsing any candidate. Kibaki said he would not name his preferred candidate despite pressure from leaders.  "As we prepare for the coming elections some people have been questioning me on my stand but I wonder of what help it will be to them," President Mwai Kibaki Kibaki reminded those seeking public office that individual efforts and development record will determine their success in the forthcoming general elections. Saying that elections will be held next year, President Kibaki noted that he had done his bit as the Head of State but will continue working for the Kenyans in the remaining months of his tenure. "Elections will be held next year. You will be subject to scrutiny by the public. Your efforts will be a determinant and so will be your record," added the President. Speaking  Monday after presiding over the ground breaking ceremony for the Olkaria Geothermal Power Project, the Head of State said People were asking for his opinion over the next elections which was not important. Said the President: "What is important for me to do is to improve the welfare of Kenyans in my remaining time in office." He called on Kenyans to promote good neighbourliness and to co-exist harmoniously. The Head of State, at the same time, assured of his Government's commitment to ensuring that natural resources in all parts of the country benefit all Kenyans as provided for by the new Constitution. President Kibaki said he was disheartened by the nature of local politics taking place in areas where discovery of commercial coal deposits and oil have been made. "I would like to remind all Kenyans that natural resources in all parts of the country belong to all Kenyans and not just the residents of those particular areas.  The State is the custodian of these resources," President Kibaki said. The President noted that Article 69 of the new Constitution provides for the sustainable exploitation, utilization, management and conservation of natural resources, adding that it also guarantees the equitable sharing of the accruing benefits from these activities. Said the President: "Such benefits have the potential of facilitating rapid socio-economic transformation of the counties in which commercial discoveries are made." In this regard, President Kibaki reassured residents of areas where discoveries of oil and commercial coal have been made that the Government is fully committed to abiding by the constitutional provisions regarding the exploitation of these newly discovered resources. On energy, the President reiterated the Government's determination to ensuring an enabling energy policy that best facilitates socio-economic transformation as articulated in Vision 2030. The Head of State indicated that his Government is keen on providing quality and affordable electricity to all Kenyans. Consequently, President Kibaki said the Government has put in place measures for development of Geothermal and other sources of electricity generation. He pointed out that a conducive legal and fiscal framework to attract private sector participation in harnessing the robust geothermal resources has also been put in place. "This is in appreciation that the Government cannot single handedly raise the resources needed for geothermal power exploration and development," President Kibaki said.