President Mwai Kibaki has urged Kenyans to be bold and demand quality services from the Government.

Noting that Governments are elected to give services to the electorate, the Head of State said time has come for wananchi to discard the culture of accepting anything offered to them and instead demand what is rightful theirs from those in leadership.

Addressing Kenyans resident in Abuja, Nigeria Thursday night, President Kibaki said the Coalition Government wants to be active and effective in rendering its services and viewed citizen participation as a key ingredient in development.

Said the President, "We would like you to be free to say what you require from us as the Government. Yes thank us for what we have done but what the Government is doing is its duty, therefore don't just express your appreciation but rather tell us what you as an individual wants us to do to make life better."

Better services  

Noting that all Kenyans have a right to be given quality and better services by their Government, President Kibaki asked wananchi to be actively involved in seeking answers on the allocation of the various grassroot resources being allocated all over the country.

The President gave the example of CDF that can transform rural lives if properly used.

"Don't keep quiet on an issue which you need to be helped by those in the Government. This is your Government therefore you have every right to demand services from it. Don't assume that those in leadership understand your needs, it's you to tell them what are your requirements," President Kibaki said.

In this connection President Kibaki urged Kenyans in the diaspora to continuously be in touch with Government representatives in the countries they live in so as to be served effectively.

The Head of State added that the reason he sets aside time to meet with Kenyans whenever he tours a foreign nation is to ensure he gets to understand their needs and also  brief them on what the Government is doing back home.

President Kibaki further said the Grand Coalition Government is committed to its agenda of uniting all Kenyans regardless of their political affiliations saying all political parties decided to join hands and build a cohesive nation with equal opportunities for all.

Constitution review

Speaking during the meeting, Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula urged Kenyans in diaspora to ignore negative reports on their motherland saying President Kibaki and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga are committed to the progress of the nation.

The minister noted that although Kenya has faced various and difficult challenges, the political leadership have managed to tackle most of them and now the country was back on track towards socio-economic growth.

Minister Wetangula added that  the Coalition Government is on the path in  its reform agenda noting that  the  Government has began implementing reforms in key areas of governance including the legislature, judiciary, police and  land reforms.

He however said  those criticizing the Government on the issue of reforms don't understand that reforms being undertaken by the Government are intertwined and hence the issues involved can't be addressed separately but rather as a package.

He noted that constitution review which was well underway was a key pillar in the reform process.

The Minister added that Kenya economy was on the recovery path and the Government was laying down strategies of stimulating that growth through disbursement of funds to the grassroots.

He noted that the Government is undertaking major infrastructural projects aimed at accelerating the economic growth.

The minister further noted that the Government is committed to the improvement of the welfare of its people.

He cited the example of the free primary education programme and bursaries being disbursed to bright needy children and the ongoing equipping of schools throughout the country.

The Minister urged Kenyans to be loyal and patriotic to their motherland and also help the country achieve its development goals.

He noted that last year Kenyans in the diaspora remitted over 70 billion shillings to the country's economy adding that the Government values greatly the contribution of its citizen.

Present during the function were the Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode and a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations Mr. Jeremiah Kioni, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Thuita Mwangi, Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria Francis Sigei and other senior government officials.