Leaders urged to unite Kenyans in campaigns

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President Kibaki. Photo/FILE 

By PATRICK NZIOKA pnzioka@ke.nationmedia.com AND GEORGE MUNENE   gamunene@yahoo.com
Posted  Friday, July 6  2012 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• Kibaki urges those who lose at polls to join the winners and Kenyans in building the nation

President Kibaki on Friday called on politicians contesting various seats not to antagonise Kenyans in their campaigns.

Speaking in the presence of three presidential hopefuls - Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, Ms Martha Karua and the Rev Mutava Musyimi -  the President said leaders they were free to contest for any seat of their choice and asked those who did not make it to join Kenyans in developing the country.

“Those looking for positions are free to do so but do not antagonise or spoil for the others. There will be only one day to compete and thereafter you should get back and work with others,” he said in his remarks in Kiswahili during the funeral service for former head of Civil Service Geoffrey Kariithi in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County.

The President called on Kenyans to stop grumbling all the time and instead work towards improving the country as the late Kariithi, a former Gichugu MP, did during his tenure in public service.

The country, he said, would be too willing to recognise those who work hard and improve the welfare of Kenyans as opposed to complaining all the time.

He eulogised the late Kariithi, popularly known as GK, for the good work he did during his long tenure as the head of the Civil Service, saying his good deeds were there for all to see.

Mr Kariithi was buried on Friday at his Kimunye home in a ceremony attended by hundreds of mourners.

The funeral service was held at the nearby Mugumo Secondary School, a short distance from this home.

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Ms Karua, the area MP, set the tone when she declared that she would be in the race to succeed President Kibaki.

She declared that all other presidential hopefuls were her friends, and that she was only in competition with them for the top seat.

She called on  those who lose in the contest to join the winners to take the country forward. She praised the late Kariithi for instilling a high sense of discipline in the Civil Service. 

Mr Kenyatta welcomed the contest and vowed he would join her in building the nation if she beat him in the race. He said he would expect the same from her if Kenyans elect him the next President.

“The problem of us leaders today is failure to work together for lack of vision. All we do is engage each other in competition all the time as well as wait to see what one has said so that we may answer them back in the media,” he said and called on all leaders to work together as that was what Kenyans wanted.

Cooperative Development minister Joseph Nyaga called on those vying for the presidency to ensure the strong foundation set by the likes of Mr Kariithi was safeguarded during the elections.

The speakers, including family members and friends, eulogised Mr Kariithi as honest, hard-working and diligent — virtues that should be emulated by Kenyans.

The presiding Anglican Church bishop, the  Rt Rev Henry Nyaga Kathii, called on Kenyans to elect capable and incorruptible leaders in the coming polls.

He urged leaders not to sow hatred among Kenyans for continued peace and stability in the country.