President Kenyatta blasts leaders over politics at funerals

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday blasted leaders who take advantage of funerals to air grievances, settle political scores or air dirty laundry.

Speaking during the burial of the late Peter Musyoka, father of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, President Kenyatta termed that as counterproductive saying that the electorate present in those functions are there for solutions not problems.

“Hii mambo ya kuja mbele ya umati kuja kulilia… wewe ni kiongozi, viongozi wanakaa kisha wanakuja kuambia direction wananchi. Kutumia mazishi ndio unakuja kulia barabara O, maji, hiyo ni kazi ya ofisi jameni. Kujeni tukae, tuongee alafu tukuje tuambie wananchi hivi ndiyo tutafanaya. Na mimi ofisi yangu sijaifunga, karibuni,” said President Kenyatta. (This issue of crying in front the electorate, you are a leader, leaders talk then go to the people with solutions. Stop using funerals to whine about roads and water, those are things discussed in offices. My office is open, you are welcome.)

In a ceremony that attracted leaders across the political divide attend, the Head of State reiterated the government’s need to unite Kenyans urging the leaders to work together in a bid to improve service delivery to the people.

“We are elected to serve Kenyans so let us work together and ensure we unite all Kenyans,” he said.

At the same time, President Kenyatta directed that the government sack the contractor in charge of the Kiambere-Seikuru project noting that it has been three years and only 3% of the project was done.

“Kuna mtu tulipatia kandarasi ya kutoa hii maji kutoka Kiambeere ikuje mpaka hapa Tseiukuru, zaidi sasa ya miaka mitatu na amefanya only 3% of the project. Kwa sababu anaonekana ameshindwa na kazi, huyo tutafukuza tutafute contrator ambaye anajua kufanya kazi ndio wananchi wapate kupata maji,” he said.

The Head of State further assured Kitui residents that Phase Two of the Kibwezi-Kitui-Seikuru-Meru road would be complete as soon as funds were available.

In jest of the borrowing backlash that he has received because of Kenya’s debt burden, Kenyatta said the country must borrow for development projects and ca repay its loans.

“We must borrow in a manner that we are sure we can service the debt, be cautious and prudent. We are borrowing not to consume, but to grow,”assured President Kenyatta.