On Saturday Kenya marked the 46th anniversary of Jamhuri day with President Mwai Kibaki urging international investors to take advantage of the bright future that lies ahead for Kenya and the region through the East African Community Common Market protocol that was signed last month.
The common market will allow free movement of labor, capital and investments within Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, and takes effect this coming July.
“Therefore, from next year, investing in Kenya is investing in East Africa, a market of over 125 million people,” he said as he addressed Kenyans at the Nyayo National stadium in Nairobi.
“With the discovery of oil and gas in the region, substantial transport and communications connectivity and one of the most strategic locations in the globe, East Africa is set for economic take off as the economic powerhouse of Africa with Kenya as its hub,” Kibaki said.
The President at the same time assured Kenyans of a new constitution next year.
“We have waited for a new constitution for nearly twenty years, let us ensure that this time we conclude the matter, and give this generation and all future generations of Kenyans a new constitutional dispensation,” he added.
The President also restated Kenya’s desire to have the United Nations Environmental Programme upgraded to a world environmental body.
“Indeed as the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Program, Kenya will continue playing a leading role in regional environmental conservation. The government will also be appealing to World leaders meeting in Copenhagen to strengthen UNEP into a World Environmental Organisation that Kenya stands ready to host,” he said.
Jamhuri (republic) is regarded as Kenya’s most important holiday when Kenya obtained its independence from Britain in 1963.
The occasion was attended by among other dignitaries’ members of the diplomatic corp.
Source African Press Agency
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