School funds, Mau and new laws top agenda for Principals

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga were on Thursday night united in their resolve to punish those who plundered the Mau forest and stole free primary education funds.

In separate new year messages to Kenyans, the two principals warned that the government would take decisive action against those found guilty of destroying the environment or looting millions of shillings set aside for the free primary education.

Noting that the first crop of pupils who have enjoyed the benefits of the programme will join standard eight this year, President Kibaki warned that the government will not spare those found to have embezzled the funds.

“We will be taking stern and decisive action against any individuals who will be found to have misappropriated funds meant for the benefit of our children,” he warned.

A similar warning was directed to those who plundered the Mau forest and other water catchment areas across the country by Mr Odinga.

Noting that Kenyans were on the verge of extinction as a result of environmental degradation, the PM warned; “our destruction of the environment that has nurtured our people for millennia is a thoughtless, blockheaded rush to self-destruction.”

“There is ample evidence that depletion of our forest cover and the related changing world climatic conditions are the main causes of the drought that has killed our livestock, left our people hungry and thirsty, and caused power rationing. We can no longer allow anyone to plunder our green lands and hide behind shallow, self-interested excuses,” he warned.

President Kibaki on his part announced that the government would start on an ambitious plan of planting trees to increasing the country’s forest cover to 10 per cent.

He called on Kenyans to individually take responsibility over their environment and engage more aggressively in water harvesting and using available water prudently.

The PM’s stance on the Mau forest was in sharp contrast to Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s new year message assuring that the government would resettle all those flushed out of the water tower this year.

“Whether it is IDPs or Mau evictees the grand coalition government has a duty to resettle them this year,” the VP stated.

The two principals, alongside the VP also rallied Kenyans to support the enactment of the new constitution this year.

Stating that Kenya was at the threshold of a new constitutional dispensation this year, president Kibaki urged the Committee of Experts writing the new constitution to come up with a document that reflects the will of most Kenyans.

“We wish to conclude the constitution review process that has over the years proved divisive. This is why it is critical that the final document that will be presented at a referendum must form the foundation for a stable, united, peaceful and prosperous Kenya,” he noted.

Mr Odinga on his part urged Kenyans to ignore those pushing for partisan interests to derail the quest for a new constitution.

“Whatever happens this year, our constitution-making efforts must not bow to narrow partisan interests that seek to keep our nation shrouded in the dark age of our continent,” he noted.

Mr Musyoka on the other hand urged all players in the constitution making process to reach consensus on all contentious issues so that the country goes to the referendum united.

“For us to go through a smooth referendum, we must bury our personal differences for the sake of this country,” he said.

“This means that political, religious, civil societies and all other stakeholders should strive to achieve consensus on all contentious issues,” he said.

On infrastructural development, Mr Musyoka said he would like to see high speed rail systems, superhighways, efficient ports and harbours.

‘‘Let me take this liberty to remind ourselves of one fundamental reality, namely we have to quickly reach consensus and complete the rewriting of our constitution. The more we procrastinate on these matters, the more we delay the full scale commencement of efforts to transform Kenya into a modern state and Kenyans into wealthy people."

President Kibaki urged Kenyans to support the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission as it embarks on its mandate to address injustices visited upon Kenyans since independence.

“Let us give the commission an opportunity to give room for national healing and reconciliation that are key ingredients to stability and development,” he stated.

The PM on his part spoke strongly against the culture of impunity and called for the trial of suspects of post election violence by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“The twin scourges of corruption and impunity remain continuous challenges that are regrettably likely to be with us for some time to come. But we shall never give up in our fight to contain and eliminate them,” he stated.

He warned that no individual should be allowed to undermine Kenyans’ sense of brotherhood through incitement to violence.

“We should not allow anyone to plunder our sense of brotherhood, to incite our fellows to rise against each other, to slaughter each other like dogs, to rape and torture and maim, and then again to hide behind shallow, self-interested excuses,” he warned.

“Wherever these terrible acts have occurred, and whoever was behind them, Kenyans must be allowed to apply to their wounds the healing salve of justice. The government has made a commitment to support the ICC process, which the majority of our nation also overwhelmingly believes is the surest way to address this issue,” he added.