President Uhuru Kenyatta leads the country in celebrating the
58th Madaraka Day at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu for the very
first time at the lake city, hosting the Burundian president Evariste
Ndayishimiye, on June 01, 2021.
In attendance was the deputy president Dr. William Ruto, ODM
leader Raila Odinga, the chief justice Martha Koome and the speaker of the
National Assembly Justin Muturi among various notable leaders.
The president toured the Lake region from Sunday where he has
commissioned and launched national projects that many allude to the 19th March
2018 handshake.
The region has witnessed many developments since the union of
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga took place. The region has been
revolutionized and given a new look from highways to the stadium.
Economic development is the core of the president’s three-day
tour at the lake city. The revival of the Kisumu port to functioning is
expected to open up trade and boost the economy of the Eastern Africa region.
“The revival of this port was informed by the need to reopen
the economy of the East African Region and beyond,” said the president.
The reconditioning of the MV Uhuru 1 vessel under the
management of KDF that has been repaired, refurbished, and rehabilitated ships for
use in Lake Victoria by Kenya Shipyard Limited a state agency to transport fuel
to Uganda was launched yesterday by the president.
The president laid the foundation for the construction of the
MV Uhuru 2 that will be built from the base by the Kenya Navy in collaboration
with Damen Civil Works, a Dutch company.
“This will help the MV Uhuru 1 which has been rehabilitated
and has already helped in the transportation of over 50million liters of fuel
to Uganda as well as reducing the distance and the cost of fuel transportation
in the country and instances of losses in the process of transportation,” said
the president.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was in the company of his guest
president Evariste and Hon. Raila Odinga during the launch.
During the ceremony president, Kenyatta highlighted on
achievements of his administration. The economic milestones that are set to
create employment and economy of the country through the Big Push Investments
like the Lamu Port, the revival of the Metre Gauge Railway, and the revival of
the Kisumu Port.
“The brick-and-mortar investments of roads, rails, and ports
are not the dream. The dream is what these Big Push Investments will do for
Kenya and how they will transform Kenya’s standing in the society of nations,”
he said.
The deputy president William Ruto commended the development
efforts by thy president in the region affirming the ruling party “kusema na
kutenda”, evident in a government that works and delivers.
“This confirms, that the government that delivers for
everybody irrespective of how and who they voted for and secondly, that the
government that delivers brings the country together,” said Ruto.
“You have shown it is possible to develop Kenya equally and
bring everybody together,” he added.
The DP eluding that the Jubilee administration has delivered
on the phase of development and infrastructure in the preparation of the next
phase that will open up opportunities, job creations, create value and wealth
that will deal with the challenges of poverty and unemployment.