President Mwai Kibaki has called on Kenyans to consider restitution and forgiveness as complementing truth and justice in order to give the nation a fresh start.
President Kibaki said while Kenyans desired justice for past injustices, they should keep in mind that although the truth will set the country free, justice must be coupled with forgiveness for reconciliation to take root.
"I urge you all to seize this moment and come together by fostering peace. Yes, let us all work together to give our children and youth a chance to have a better, peaceful and prosperous future," President Kibaki said.
Paying glowing tribute to the country's freedom heroes for the sacrifices they made during the struggle for independence and their vision for the country, the President appealed to all Kenyans to forgive one another and live together peacefully.
The Head of State was speaking at Nyayo National Stadium where he led the nation in celebrating this year's Kenyatta Day.
He urged wananchi to exercise every freedom and liberty they have with due recognition and observation of the responsibilities, boundaries and obligations that go with them.
Said President Kibaki: "Your freedom ends where the freedoms of your fellow citizens begin. All societies are bound by rules and laws. Indeed, freedom is one side of a coin whose other side is responsibility."
Noting that the utmost desire of the country's founding fathers was to see that all Kenyans lived in freedom and the country was at peace with itself, President Kibaki urged Kenyans never to lose sight of this cherished goal.
"And I am happy that today, we in Kenya are free to think as we wish, speak as we wish, associate as we wish and live and do business as we wish. However, we should always keep in mind that freedoms and liberties are not absolute - not in Kenya or in any other country in the world," the President said.
He cautioned against the pursuit of freedom and liberty without respect for institutions, law and order, saying that is a dangerous path for any country.
The Head of State pointed out that eroding the stature and authority of established institutions, tarnishing their reputation and belittling those in authority does not augur well for the country's socio-economic and political development.
The President advised that if institutions are weak, they should be strengthened and if those managing them are not capable, they should be changed but the practice of tearing down institutions without due regard to what will fill the vacuum they leave must not be embraced.
Said the President: "I have said these things because I have no doubt in my mind that the ultimate desire of all of us is to build a better Kenya. And to do so, we must learn from our past, strengthen our governance and civic institutions and choose to use freedom and liberty in a positive and productive manner."
In this connection, President Kibaki said his Government will use the recommendations from the Kriegler Commission to strengthen the electoral system and those from the Waki Commission to build a stable, cohesive and integrated society whose institutions protect the freedom and liberty of every citizen wherever they chose to live or work.
Saying the Grand Coalition Government together with the people of Kenya have the capacity and will to develop a political consensus on a win-win constitutional settlement, the President said there was no doubt that the findings of the two commissions will be reflected in the new Constitution.
"Indeed, I believe that this is an opportunity for the Grand Coalition Government to seal its place in our nation's history by providing future generations with the legacy of a sound and durable constitutional and legal framework," the President said.
On youth empowerment, the President said the Government will spare no effort or time in finding appropriate solutions to the challenges facing the youth.
He observed that there were millions of unemployed and underemployed youth, many of whom are well educated and full of ambition as exhibited by the world class performance of the country's athletes at the recent Beijing Olympics and Paralympics and in many other global and regional sporting events.
In this regard, President Kibaki said the Ministry of Youth and Sports is finalizing proposals on programmes whose implementation will enable the Government to employ many young people in public works, impart skills and entrench a business culture.
"If we succeed in implementing these proposals, we will have secured the future of our youth and that of the country," the Head of State said, saying engaging the youth will go a long way in tackling some of the challenges of urban and rural crime.
Noting that up to 800,000 young people enter the job market each year, the President said the Government is implementing measures to create a 24-hour economy to ensure that the youth have access to decent jobs and self-employment opportunities.
Said the President: "On my part, I have no doubt that we must succeed. That is why I recently directed the relevant Government agencies and the National Economic and Social Council to provide us with strategies that will create sufficient wage and self-employment opportunities capable of absorbing the majority of our school and college leavers."
In addition, President Kibaki said the Government is developing innovative ways of mobilizing public and private financing for expanding the national infrastructure.
He said the huge investments the Government is making in sectors such as energy, roads, housing, transport, education, health, agriculture, industry, I.C.T. and tourism are all geared towards boosting the country's economy and generating jobs for the youth.
Noting that as a member of the global community the country is currently facing problems caused by rising global food and energy prices and the volatile world financial markets, the President said his Government has taken measures to address the situation.
With regard to the food crisis, President Kibaki ordered the Ministries of Agriculture, Special Programmes and Finance to import maize and purchase grain from farmers so that the country has enough stocks.
He said the maize will be distributed to National Cereals and Produce Board depots in the badly affected areas and sold at affordable prices or distributed as relief to the worst affected communities so that all Kenyans will have enough to eat.
"However, even as we take these preventive measures, we must turn our efforts to increasing the productivity of our farmers in food production in order to enhance the food security of all our people," the President said.
The President said the Government is also mobilizing resources to purchase sufficient quantities of fertilizers that will be availed at affordable prices and also ensure availability of good seeds as well as credit facilities to small farmers for the next season.
President Kibaki said the Government is also investing substantial resources in the livestock sub-sector through implementation of disease control measures and aggressive search for better markets for livestock and livestock products.
On the energy crisis, the President directed the Ministries of Finance and Energy to reduce some taxes on energy production so as to minimize the effects of the high oil prices on domestic and industrial consumers.
He said the Government is also developing a comprehensive energy security strategy to ensure that the country has sufficient quantities of affordable energy.
The Head of State, however, appealed to oil companies in the country to extend the benefits of the reduced international crude oil prices to the Kenyan consumers.
With regard to the global financial crisis, President Kibaki said he has constituted an economic task force comprising officials from the Ministries of Finance, Planning and the Central Bank to draw up a strategy that will ensure continued access to affordable credit by individuals, small business owners, farmers and industries.
"I also expect the taskforce to provide recommendations that will enable us to strengthen our capital markets and guard against manipulation of prices of equities and bonds on the stock market to the detriment of the ordinary investor," President Kibaki said.
Speaking during the occasion, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said through President Kibaki's able leadership Kenyans have proved to the world that they can resolve challenges facing them within a short time.
On his part, Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged politicians to preach peace and togetherness for the sake of the country's unity.
He said before parliamentarians break for Christmas this year, they should strive to pass the bill which will enable the country get a new constitution within the stipulated time.
Present were First Lady Lucy Kibaki, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Members of Parliament, Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Amb. Francis Muthaura, members of diplomatic corps and wananchi from all walks of life.
Later at State House Nairobi, the President and the First Lady hosted a colourful garden party, which was attended by Cabinet Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Members of Parliament and members of the diplomatic corps among other invited guests.
