President Kibaki on Sunday thanked Othaya people, whom he has served for 37 years, for giving him time to pursue his national ambitions.
Speaking at an interdenominational thanksgiving prayer service in Othaya yesterday, President Kibaki said he will retire a happy man after having given his best as president and Othaya MP.
The president said his Government was committed to serving all without discrimination.
"Whenever you go in this country, you are impressed by the steps that Kenyans have taken to uplift their lives," Kibaki. told the congregation.
The president was first elected Othaya MP in 1974 after shifting his base from Nairobi’s Donholm Constituency (later renamed Bahati and now comprising parts of Kamukunji) where he was first elected MP in the first post-Independence elections in 1964. The president also took a swipe at some unnamed leaders who he described as "proud", saying the pride was likely to be a precursor to their downfall.
He said such leaders must show humility rather than brag about their achievements as they were only the servants of Kenyans.
The prayer meeting at the Othaya Approved School Grounds was organised by churches in Nyeri County, including the Catholic, PCEA, the ACK, AIPCA as well as evangelicals such as PEFA and the Redeemed Gospel Church.
Archbishop Peter Kairo of the Nyeri Catholic Archdiocese delivered the main sermon.
He said Kibaki had served the country with humility and wisdom.
Kairo added that Kibaki had brought progress in education, health, infrastructure and trade but noted that a lot more needed to be done to reduce graft, laziness, crime and consumption of illicit brews.
At the service, the president sat between his son Jimmy and daughter Judy, while younger sons David Kagai and Tony Githinji and Jimmy’s wife completed this row.
Also present were his grandchildren, Cabinet ministers Uhuru Kenyatta, Amos Kimunya, Beth Mugo, Chirau Mwakwere and Moses Wetang’ula, MPs Ephraim Maina (Mathira) and F T Nyammo (Tetu) and former Vice-President Moody Awori.
Wetang’ula said the president’s greatest achievement was delivery of the Constitution.
Uhuru said Kibaki had been at the centre of national development since independence and will remain a role model to many.
At the meeting, Mwakwere confessed how Kibaki turned down his offer to lead a crusade for extension of his tenure beyond the constitutional limit.
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