The season for politics is over and it is now time to work, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.
A few days to his inauguration for his second term in office, President Kenyatta today launched construction a multi billion dam with a rallying call that the time for politicking is over.
The President said it is now time for Kenyans to roll up their sleeves and get down to the serious job of building the nation, as he launched construction of the Kshs 19 billion Thiba dam in Kirinyaga County.
“The season for politicking is over. It is now time to roll up our sleeves and start to work,” the President said.
The President, who was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, asked leaders to put aside political differences and work together to improve the lives of Kenyans.
Singling out construction of the Thiba dam, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the project would be a game changer in rice production in the Mwea irrigation scheme.
He pointed out that water from the dam would enable farmers to have two seasons of planting annually, a move that would boost their income.
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The President emphasised that the dam would buttress efforts geared towards ensuring the country is food secure, one of the key planks of the Jubilee Administration’s transformational agenda.
“Food security is critical to the Jubilee agenda. It will be part and parcel of my second term,” said President Kenyatta.
The President said the project, which would be complete within three years, would employment over 1000 people.
On completion the dam would help rice farmers in Mwea to double production from the current 80 tonnes to 160 tonnes annually.
The project will also help in stabilization of the irrigation water supply, allowing double cropping with the area under irrigation increasing from 25,000 acres to 35,000 acres. This will in turn increase revenue from Kshs 4.56 billion to Ksh 8.6 billion annually.
Deputy President Ruto called on Kenyans to build bridges of friendship and partnership that would support nation building.
“The time for political competition is over. We are now in a new chapter where we need to work together and transform the lives of Kenyans,” said the Deputy President.
“The period of politicking is now behind us, it’s time to unite and build together a nation that we all believe in and move on,” the Deputy President added.
He said the Jubilee Government is constructing 57 dams across the country in its effort to boost food security.
“These dams are aimed at improving food production and also allow wananchi access clean water for domestic use,” said DP Ruto.
The construction of Thiba dam is being financed in partnership with the Japanese government through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
President Uhuru Kenyatta thanked Japan Government for being a true partner in the development of Kenya.
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“Since independence Japan has been a partner in our development agenda. They have helped us undertake various projects in the energy, agriculture, roads and in the expansion and modernisation of our port – making it the biggest in the East African coastline,” said President Kenyatta.
The President and his deputy thanked Kirinyaga residents for coming out in large numbers to vote in the October 26 fresh presidential election.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru said her County Administration would utilise water from the dam to construct a golf course and hotel to create jobs for residents.
Other speakers included Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Uesawa Toshitsugu, Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kabiru and Gichugu MP Robert Gichimu among others.
