President Uhuru Kenyatta took a charm offensive to Cord stronghold in Mombasa County by dining with area MPs in a small restaurant, drinking madafu and even enjoying a stroll along the Jomo Kenyatta beach popularly known as Pirates.
Kenyatta who has increasingly cut an image of a down to earth president compared to his predecessor keenly listened to residents during his many stopovers in the coastal city.
The President had lunch at Baraka hotel with Nine Coast MPs as eager residents waited for him outside the hotel. He asured tourists of their safety as he toured the beached mobbed by revellers.
During his tour he warned youths against being used by leaders to cause chaos while at the same time warning police officers collaborating with drug barons, saying their days are numbered.
He said the heightened war on drug traffickers has been extended to net anybody involved in the illicit trade.
The President, who was on a meet-the-people tour of Mombasa and Kilifi counties, said the Government is determined to end the drug menace in the country to save the young generation.
“You saw what happened yesterday (The bombing of a heroin ship). We will not relent on the war against drug abuse. Our children should be given a chance to learn and grow into useful citizens,” he said
The President – accompanied by a galaxy of elected leaders from the Coast region – addressed citizen at Mvita, Majengo Kanamai, Mtwapa and Pirate public beach.
President Kenyatta regretted that the drug barons were destroying the lives of Kenyan children while their own children were secured elsewhere.
He advised the youth to reject politicians inciting them to violence particularly those clamouring for a referendum, saying the unending politics do not add value to lives of Kenyans.
The President said security was paramount for any tangible development and Government was determined to make Mombasa beaches secure to reclaim their lost glory.
“Let me assure tourists and locals visiting beaches at the Coast that their safety is guaranteed,” said the President.
He once again asked leaders to rise above partisan politics and join the Government in building a country where all Kenyans will be proud of.
The President said: “Kenyans have a right to quality service. We must forget our political parties and come together as leaders to transform the country.”
President Kenyatta said the Government’s agenda to transform the country through infrastructural development will benefit all Kenyans without ethnic, religious or political bias.
The President also said the war on terrorism targeted individuals whose criminal activities endangered the lives of Kenyans and not communities.
Nine Coast MPs accompanying the President said they had resolved to rise above party politics and will work with the Government to accelerate development in their constituencies.
The leader who included MPs for Mvita, Kilifi North, Kilifi South, Kinango, Lunga Lunga, Ganze, Likoni, and Women representatives in Mombasa and Kilifi counties lauded the President for leading from the front the war on drug trafficking.
– the-star.co.ke
