Kenyans living in U.S. pay tribute to Kibaki

Kenyans living in the United States of America have paid glowing tribute to President Mwai Kibaki for his visionary leadership which has seen the country achieve tremendous growth in all sectors of the economy.

In a banquet with the President in New York City, the Kenyan community in US reaffirmed their loyalty to the nation and expressed their gratitude to the President for fulfilling his promise of ushering Kenya into a new constitutional dispensation which enabled Kenyans in diaspora to have dual citizenship.

Acknowledging that the new Constitution guaranteed their democratic right of participating in their country’s electoral process also, the ecstatic Kenyans pledged to increase their remittances back home so as to join hands with other citizens back home in catapulting the nation to the next level of development.

Speakers during the function enumerated various development achievements under the leadership of President Kibaki particularly the ongoing nationwide infrastructural expansion which they noted would make the country a preferred investment destination.

In his address, President Kibaki urged Kenyans in the United States and other parts of the world to fully support efforts geared towards national renewal and to take up emerging lucrative investment opportunities in the country.

Said the President, "When you are through with what you are doing here please come back home quickly otherwise you will find those good areas of investment gone."

Saying Kenyans are hard working people, President Kibaki noted that since the inception of the Free Education programme, Kenyans have realized that it is possible to initiate many projects which will impact their lives positively.

He assured that model schools known as centres of excellence are being built in all constituencies along side model health facilities.

The President, however, cautioned Kenyans against complacency saying they should not dwell on what has been achieved in the past but rather come up with fresh ideas which will move the country to the next level of development.

He further emphasized that currently the country has several ongoing and complete road projects in all parts of the country including the most remote areas.

On the Lamu Port-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor Project (LAPSSET), President Kibaki said the new corridor will transform Kenya tremendously and at the same time serve the landlocked neighbouring nations of Ethiopia and South Sudan.

In this connection President Kibaki urged Kenyans in diaspora to read and seek more information about their motherland which will enable them to identify areas of investment.

On the new Constitution, the Head of State said the cabinet had already approved 27 bills which underpin smooth implementation of the new set of laws.

On the South Sudan, President Kibaki expressed hope that any outstanding issues would be peaceably addressed to enable the new nation embark on the path of development and prosperity.

Others speakers were ministers Moses Wetangula, Wyclife Oparanya, Chirau Mwakwere, Beth Mugo, Noah Wekesa, assistant minister Richard Onyonka and Rangwe Member of Parliament Martin Ogindo.

Also present were Kenyan Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Macharia Kamau, Kenyan Ambassador to the United States of America Elkana Odembo and Head of the United Nations office to the African Union Ambassador Zachary Muburi Muita, among other senior Government officials.