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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 001045 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KE
SUBJECT: TEXT OF PRESIDENT KIBAKI'S SPEECH ON SWEARING IN 
GRAND COALITION GOVERNMENT 
 
¶1.  President Mwai Kibaki delivered an address on the 
swearing in of the new grand coalition cabinet on April 17. 
The message stressed reconciliation and unity.  The text of 
the speech follows. 
 
¶2.  Begin Text. 
 
Your Excellency Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic 
of Uganda, Your Excellency Dr. Kofi Annan, Chairperson of 
the Mediation Team, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, 
Ladies and Gentlemen, 
 
Today's ceremony is a tribute to the people of Kenya, and 
to all of our leaders, who have had to make difficult and 
uncomfortable decisions, for the good of Kenya.  I 
congratulate all those who are being sworn in at this 
ceremony, I sincerely thank my colleague President Yoweri 
Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and His 
Excellency Kofi Annan for finding time to join us today on 
this important occasion. 
 
I sincerely thank my brother Presidents from the East 
African Community who have sent their representatives to be 
with us today.  We say Karibu.  We sincerely appreciate the 
support we have received from the African Union, our 
neighbouring countries, the mediating team and other 
friendly countries and well wishers. 
 
Today's swearing in marks a major milestone in the 
political history in this country.  The recent general 
elections seriously divided our people along regional and 
ethnic lines.  The formation of the Grand Coalition 
Government promises to heal the rifts created by politics 
of incitement and ethnic suspicions which threatened to 
tear our nation apart. 
 
Our people are now in the process of reconciliation. We 
have resolved as a nation that we belong together.   We 
have agreed as political parties that our people want 
peace, unity, more opportunities for employment and a 
higher quality of life.  These cannot be realized in a 
nation that is divided or torn apart along tribal lines. 
 
In forming the Grand Coalition Government, we have all 
recognized and accepted that individual interests must not 
override the greater good of our nation, nor can personal 
views or opinions be allowed to undermine the aspirations 
of the people.  I therefore, want to commend the Right 
Honourable Raila Odinga for the initiatives we have taken 
so far that have enabled us to form a Grand Coalition 
Cabinet.  I also thank the entire political leadership, 
that is, the Vice-President, ministers, assistant 
ministers, members of parliament and councilors as well as 
religious and trade union leaders for fully supporting 
these initiatives. 
 
I am aware that the challenges ahead are many and 
difficult.  However, we have succeeded in laying a strong 
foundation.  What remains is for each on of us to build on 
this foundation in the spirit of collective responsibility, 
good faith, mutual trust and confidence.  Let us, 
therefore, cultivate a culture of continuous consultation. 
It is only by working as a team that we, the political 
leaders, will be able to inspire the public servants who 
work under us to achieve the extraordinary performance 
levels that must be attained. 
 
This is essential if we are to meet the high expectations 
of the Kenyan people in terms of political, economic and 
social change. 
 
As a minister and assistant minister, you will be expected 
to show results and excel in your portfolio.  Kenyans will 
be monitoring your performance and will be judging you by 
the quality, timeliness and the services that your ministry 
provides,  I, therefore encourage you to closely monitor 
and oversee the activities of your ministry in order to 
ensure that Wanachi (note: citizens) receive the benefits 
they expect and in particular, they are not frustrated by 
and inefficient officials. 
 
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 
 
NAIROBI 00001045  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
The first task of the expanded Government is to deal with 
the resettlement of displaced Kenyans now living in camps 
as refugees or being hosted by well wishers.  It is 
unacceptable that a Kenyan should be prevented from 
accessing his or her property by another.  We have a 
beautiful country and every Kenyan has a right to legally 
live, work, conduct business or own property anywhere in 
the country. 
 
The Government is accelerating the resettlement program and 
is setting up the necessary security infrastructure to 
ensure that the people returning to their farms.  We are 
also assisting displaced people to resume normal lives by 
providing ploughing services, seeds and fertilizers free of 
charge. 
 
My appeal to all the leaders in the Grand Coalition 
Government is to take the message of reconciliation and 
peace to the grassroots.  We can and must bring the cycle 
of violence to and end.  On its part, the Government will 
draw up a policy for Inter-Ethnic Relations, table a bill 
in Parliament for the establishment of an Inter-Ethnic 
Relations Commission and pass laws prohibiting hate speech 
and crimes.  We are in the process of establishing a Truth, 
Justice and Reconciliation Committee which will go a long 
way in providing opportunity to national healing and 
reconciliation. 
 
Further, as a Grand Coalition Government, we are now well 
placed to conclude the long outstanding issues of 
constitutional review.  Kenyans want and deserve a new 
constitutional review.  Kenyans want and deserve a new 
constitutional dispensation, and as a Grand Coalition, we 
have committed ourselves to deliver on this promise within 
a year.  The Coalition is better placed to galvanize 
consensus on the few contentious issues that have been 
outstanding. 
 
Another area of priority is to turn around the economy that 
has slowed down over the last three months.  We are 
currently experiencing a sharp increase in the price of 
food and other basic commodities.  In addition, the cost of 
transportation has increased considerably thus increasing 
the burden of the majority of our urban workers.  It is 
essential that we reverse this trend to improve the lives 
of Wanachi. 
 
 
Above all, Kenya's economy is very much intertwined with 
the economies of our neighbouring countries, and therefore, 
any disruption on inefficiencies in our economy has a 
negative impact on the economies of our neighbours and vice 
versa.  It is very important, therefore, that we work 
together with our brothers and sisters in the region to 
promote regional co-operation and development. 
 
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 
 
As at the Grand Coalition Government, we must ensure that 
our next policies and the manner in which they are 
implemented over the next five years result in half of all 
the people who are now living in absolute poverty being 
freed from this state.  If we achieve this goal, the Grand 
Coalition will have served its true purpose which is to 
unite  all of Kenya's leaders in a joint and effective war 
against poverty, ignorance and disease while creating a 
just and democratic society. 
 
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 
 
In conclusion, I ask all Kenyans to pledge themselves to 
achieving national reconciliation and healing, and living 
together in tolerance and harmony.  I urge all leaders, 
starting with those in Government to be ambassadors of 
peace, justice and reconciliation in every part of the 
country. 
 
I urge all of us to consider today as a fresh start for our 
country towards lasting peace, prosperity and equitable 
development.  Let us join hands as a nation, with everyone 
doing their bit, to build a mew Kenya, one in which every 
 
NAIROBI 00001045  003 OF 003 
 
 
man, woman and child has the opportunity, and access to 
live a long and fulfilled life. 
 
Once again, I congratulate you on your appointment and wish 
you the best in the service of our country. 
 
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. 
End text. 
RANNEBERGER