PRESS STATEMENT BY STATE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON MS KANZE DENA-MARARO ON TUESDAY, 17TH SEPTEMBER 2019

Below are the key highlights from State House:

I. Last Week's Engagements

(a) The President's recent working tour of the Coast Region

Over the last week, His Excellency the President made an extensive inspection tour of national government development projects in the Coast region covering Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu and Tana River Counties.

The President who was accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Samson Mwathethe and Coast Regional Coordinator John Elungata began his tour in Kwale County where he visited the Shimoni fish landing site, a facility that the government through the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is in the process of upgrading into a modern fishing port at a cost of Shs 500 million.

Speaking to residents of Shimoni, the President said the facility will be upgraded into a modern fishing port complete with cold storage facilities, new modern offices for the various state agencies and berths for light cargo vessels so as to spur economic activities in the area.

In addition to the infrastructure, the President announced that the government will train 150 youth from the area at the Bandari Maritime Academy so as to ensure that the local community reaps maximum benefits from the fishing port.

On the same day, the President inspected the ongoing construction of the road from Samburu through Kinango to Kwale where he asked the contractor to speed up the works and ensure that the agreed timelines and quality standards are fully met.

The Samburu to Kinango section of the road is now 78 percent complete with roadworks on the segment expected to be complete by December this year.

While in Kinango, the President made a surprise appearance at the homecoming ceremony of Principal Secretary Safina Kwekwe at Mwangoni Primary School grounds where he pledged an upgrade of the school at a cost of Shs 11 million.

The second day of the Coast tour led the President to Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu Counties. In Lamu, the President visited the new Lamu Port where he expressed satisfaction with the progress of construction works and announced that the first berth, which is complete, will be opened in October this year.

The President further announced government plans to start the construction of a crude oil pipeline from the Turkana oilfields to the new seaport, all in an effort to create more jobs and open up the region for more investments.

From the Port, the President inspected the ongoing construction of the 200km Mokowe to Garsen Road, which is currently under construction. The road which traverses Lamu and Tana River Counties will be critical in the movement of cargo to and from the new Port of Lamu.

At Hindi town, the President cautioned Lamu residents against divisive politics and urged them to continue living together in peace and harmony.

While at the Coast, the President also found time to host Coast leaders at a meeting to discuss development in the region.

At the meeting held at State House, Mombasa and attended by a majority of elected leaders from the region including all the 6 Governors, Senators and Members of Parliament, the President challenged them to unite and work closely with each other so as to achieve faster development.

The President advised the leaders to have a broader and more long-term view of development saying the focus should be on projects that benefit more people through wealth and employment creation.

(b) President Kenyatta presides over the 2019 Recruits Passing Out Parade at the Recruits Training School in Eldoret

On Wednesday, 11th September the President was in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County to preside over the 2019 Recruits Passing Out Parade at the Recruits Training School.

The President, who was accompanied by Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, was received at the military facility by Defence CS Raychelle Omamo and the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Samson Mwathethe.

Speaking to the new soldiers and their families, the President announced that the Kenya Defence Forces will play a more direct role in pushing forward the country's industrialization agenda.

The Head of State said the country’s prosperity goes hand-in-hand with an environment of peace and security, and called upon the military to be direct drivers of Kenya’s growth by contributing to the national industrialization processes.

(c) The President chairs a Special Cabinet meeting

Last Thursday, the President chaired a special Cabinet meeting which resolved to impose an immediate ban on the adoption of Kenyan children by foreign nationals.

The special Cabinet meeting also directed the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to formulate a new policy document to regulate the adoption of children by foreign nationals in Kenya.

On infrastructure, the Cabinet approved Shs 6.9 billion for the development of an Inland Container Depot, Railway Marshalling Yard, Logistics Zone and Public Utility Area as well as other core enabling infrastructure to support the development of the Naivasha Special Economic Zone.

The Cabinet further approved the hosting of the upcoming Nairobi Summit of the 25th International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD 25).

The summit scheduled for 12th to 14th November 2019 will be attended by over 6,000 delegates from 179 countries.

(d) President Kenyatta in Moroto, Uganda for the signing of Cross-Border Sustainable Peace and Development Agreement

On Thursday, after the special Cabinet meeting, the President traveled to Moroto where he joined his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni to witness the signing of an agreement aimed at promoting sustainable peace and development among Turkana, Pokot and Karamojong communities.

The programme dubbed Cross-Border Sustainable Peace and Development seeks to end hostilities among the three neighboring communities and enhance development in the region by promoting non-violent interactions and collaborations.

Speaking at the event also attended by Governors Josphat Nanok (Turkana) and Prof John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), the President who was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Eugene Wamalwa (Devolution) and Simon Chelugui (Water) welcomed the agreement saying it will help spur development in the region which has for many years lagged behind due to communal conflicts and hostilities.

While in Moroto, the two leaders commissioned the 2.3 million cubic litres Kobebe dam, a community water point that was constructed by the Ugandan government at a cost of 2.5 million US dollars.

The dam which is on the Ugandan side of the Kenya-Uganda border serves over 1.5 million animals from the pastoralist Turkana and Karamojong communities.

(e) President Kenyatta at the State Funeral of former President of Zimbabwe Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe in Harare

On Saturday 14th September, the President joined other world leaders at the State Funeral of former President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Robert Gabriel Mugabe at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

The President eulogized the former President as an icon of Africa's liberation struggle and an elder statesman who relentlessly championed for African dignity.

He said the founding father of independent Zimbabwe will forever be remembered for his contribution to the liberation of many African nations which benefited from his material and tactical support in the 80’s and 90’s.

He said former President Mugabe, who died aged 95 at a Singapore hospital last week, was always mindful of African interests and never shied away from pushing for the ownership and prudent utilization of African resources for the benefit of its people.

In honour of the late Mugabe, the President called on the continent’s leaders to guard against negative influences and manipulation that erode common values and aspirations for socio-economic emancipation and prosperity.

Former President Mugabe who started out as a trained teacher and rose through the liberation struggle to earn his country independence in 1980 and thereafter lead Zimbabwe for 37 will be remembered by many for his fiery and passionate speeches, and witty anecdotes.

II. Upcoming Engagements

(a) President Kenyatta to speak at the Singapore Summit

The President will later this week speak at the Singapore Summit, a forum that brings together governments, private sector and thought leaders from around the world to discuss global trends in business, finance and geopolitics, and the impact on regional and global growth, prosperity and stability.

Established in 2012, the Singapore Summit is a key platform for shared Asian perspectives on global issues, and one where ideas on deeper partnerships between the public, private and people sectors are developed and shared.

The President, who will be attending the Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong of Singapore, will speak about Kenya's growth trajectory and opportunities for growth in East Africa.

(b) The President to attend the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

President Kenyatta will join fellow Heads of State and Government at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

While in the US, the President is expected to intensify Kenya's campaign for one of the non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council (UNSC) for which the country recently secured the backing of the African Union.

The UNSC elections are scheduled for June next year for the 2021 to 2022 membership period.