Uhuru salutes Kenyans for keeping peace

PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta (second left), his deputy, Mr William Ruto (left), their spouses Margaret and Rachel (partially hidden) and other worshippers, walk behind Bishop Cornelius Korir of the Eldoret Catholic Diocese during a Palm Sunday procession on March 24, 2013.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By DENNIS ODUNGA dodunga@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, March 25  2013 at  00:30

IN SUMMARY

• President-elect says Eldoret residents, who had been associated with violence, proved the world wrong

President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta returned to Eldoret, for the first time after being declared the winner, and thanked Kenyans for maintaining peace during the General Election.

Mr Kenyatta said Kenyans, particularly residents of Eldoret, who had been associated with violence, proved the world wrong when they upheld peace during and after the polls.

The President-elect said: “You surprised the whole world by the way you turned out in large numbers and voted overwhelmingly for your favourite candidates in peace. You voted in a way that has never been witnessed.”

Mr Kenyatta, who was accompanied by Deputy President-elect William Ruto, said upholding unity would help the country move ahead as they roll their sleeves to implement their promises to Kenyans.

“We are ready to work for you as we promised. The unity will be the foundation to ensure we alleviate poverty, create jobs, better our roads and improve the lives of Kenyans,” said Mr Kenyatta. He appealed for calm as the country waits for the verdict of the Supreme Court on a petition filed by Cord flag bearer Raila Odinga contesting the declaration of Mr Kenyatta as the winner of the March 4 election.

Mr Kenyatta said they would strive to address the challenges facing the youth, women, farmers and the elderly in a bid to improve their lives.

“We will talk more after the ruling date,” Mr Kenyatta said when he addressed Christians and the public who had flocked to the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Eldoret.
In his speech, Mr Kenyatta focused more on thanking the Eldoret residents for the overwhelming support they accorded the Jubilee coalition, which saw him come ahead of Mr Odinga with more than 700,000 votes.

Later in the day, business came to a standstill along the Uganda Road as Mr Kenyatta’s motorcade slowly moved through Eldoret town as he waved and acknowledged cheers from the crowd.

The President-elect appealed to farmers in the area not to shy away from planting crops, saying the country could face an acute food shortage if acreage under crops is reduced this season.

“Uasin Gishu is the country’s grain basket and we have made sure seeds and fertiliser are available at low prices. Accept to go to the farms to ensure the country has enough food for its population,” said Mr Kenyatta. His call comes barely a week after President Kibaki responded to farmers’ outcry that maize seeds were expensive and subsidised fertilisers were in short supply, a situation they said would compromise food production.

As a result, Sh2.7 billion was released by the Treasury for acquisition of subsidised fertilisers to help growers as the planting season gets under way in various parts of the country.

Mr Ruto said he was proud to be part of the history of ensuring peaceful coexistence among Kenyans.

“We will make it our business and responsibility to unite people of Kenya beyond tribe, colour, religion and creed as we strive to alleviate hunger, disease and poverty in this country,” said Mr Ruto. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of Mr Kenyatta, Kenyans’ lives would improve.