Aga Khan meets Kibaki

President Kibaki on Wednesday praised the Aga Khan Development Network for the various projects it has undertaken across the country.

Speaking at a meeting with the Aga Khan at his Harambee House office, the President said the various projects, particularly in the tourism and agricultural sectors, had helped improve the living conditions of Kenyans.

He assured the Aga Khan that the government would support such programmes aimed at benefiting and empowering Kenyans economically. The Aga Khan, who is in Kenya for the 50th anniversary of the Nation Media Group, had paid a courtesy call on President Kibaki.

The President welcomed the support offered to farmers by the AKDN through the provision of credit, introduction of drought-resistant crops as well as giving vital skills in water harvesting. The Aga Khan founded the Nation Media Group 50 years ago and has seen it grow into one of the leading media companies in Africa.

Present during the visit were Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula and Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura. The Aga Khan was accompanied by Dr Shafik Sachedina, the director of diplomatic affairs at the Aga Khan Secretariat, Mr Zul Abdul, president of the Aga Khan Council for Kenya and Mr Aziz Bhaloo, AKDN representative in Kenya.

President Kibaki is on Wednesday scheduled to open the Pan-Africa Media Conference, which is part of celebrations to mark 50 years of the Nation Media Group. He is expected at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre at 9.30am.

He will be received by Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Aga Khan, Information and communications minister Samuel Poghisio, the Africa Media Initiative Executive Director Amadou Mahtar Ba, and the Nation Media Group Chief Executive Officer Linus Gitahi.

Other dignitaries that will grace the conference are former Mozambique President Joachim Chissano and Sudanese-born British telecommunications magnate, Dr Mohamed Mo Ibrahim, the man behind the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

He joins the great line up of speakers including Nobel peace laureate Prof Wangari Maathai, Prof Guy Berger, Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Mr Pierre Barrot, Prof Kwame Kaari Kari, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, Mr David Dadge and Mr Jean Ping, the chairperson of the Commission of the African Union.

Unep executive director Achim Steiner and Dr Hussein Amin, a former chair of journalism at the America University in Cairo, will also attend the conference. As part of the Nation Media Group’s celebrations, the company has published a 60-page supplement on the growth of the Nation’s newspapers and broadcast stations. The conference continues on Friday.