Kibaki promises smooth voting

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PHOTO | PPS President Kibaki is received at the Guisii Municipal Stadium in Kisii by Catholic priests and faithful led by the Kisii Bishop Joseph Okemwa during the 25th ordination anniversary of the bishop and Fathers Chrysantus Machuka and Apollinaris Nyakang’i.  PPS

By DANIEL OTIENO dotieno@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, October 27  2012 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• The Head of State assured Kenyans that the government had put in place the appropriate measures to ensure that the electoral process runs smoothly
• Noting that while the country had made some big strides in improving some sectors of the economy, he cited education and infrastructure as sectors that need further improvement
• The President spoke in Kisii at the 25th ordination anniversary of the Kisii Catholic Bishop Joseph Okemwa and Fathers Chrysantus Machuka and Apollinaris Nyakang’i.

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President Kibaki on Saturday urged voters to vet leaders based on their development records fives months before the country faces a crucial General Election.

“You will have a chance to choose whom you want, but remember the choice you make will affect you. You are the ones who know where you are now and where you want to be, so choose your leaders wisely,” the President said.

The Head of State assured Kenyans that the government had put in place the appropriate measures to ensure that the electoral process runs smoothly.

Without interference

“The elections will be conducted in a good way so that Kenyans can exercise their democratic right by choosing the leaders they want without interference,” he said.

Noting that while the country had made some big strides in improving some sectors of the economy, he cited education and infrastructure as sectors that need further improvement.

The President spoke in Kisii at the 25th ordination anniversary of the Kisii Catholic Bishop Joseph Okemwa and Fathers Chrysantus Machuka and Apollinaris Nyakang’i.

The President called for peaceful elections.

“Inasmuch as you must have friends, remember that not everybody can be your friend, so you should not do somebody a favour by electing them because they are your friends, nor should you hate somebody because they are not your friend,” he said.

Foreign Affairs minister Prof Sam Ongeri and MPs George Nyamweya, Walter Nyambati, Richard Onyonka and Simeon Ogari also attended the function.

Prof Ongeri and Mr Onyonka urged the President to reassure the provincial administration, especially the chiefs, that they would keep their jobs.

“Chiefs bear very important roles, especially in rural areas, and we cannot do without them. MPs must reconsider their fate in the new dispensation,” Prof Ongeri said.

Chiefs in different parts of the country have recently been demonstrating to push the government to make public their fate in the devolved system next year.

Kisumu Archbishop Zaccheus Okoth and Bishop Okemwa commended the President for his efforts in ensuring peace in Kenya and its neighbours, especially Somalia.