Kenya marks 47th Jamhuri day

President Kibaki on Sunday led the nation in marking its 47th anniversary, traditionally a day reserved for annual stock-taking, but which this time was clouded by the leaked US diplomatic cables that had labelled the coalition government as corrupt and anti-reformist.Though initially measured in their response to the leaked cables, the coalition principals went full-throttle against US ambassador Michael Ranneberger during the Jamuhuri day celebrations, dismissing the envoy's conduct as that of a colonial governor.

"We do not want visitors who come act as if he is a governor...the last governor left in 1964. The responsibility of running Kenya is now ours. We welcome visitors , but we also want them to respect us," said PM Odinga.

President Kibaki later added: " Nobody who has been in this country all this time to see all we have done can suddenly start scaring us with things that they write. Those trying to scare us should go elsewhere."

The President, in a rare acknowledgement, stated that a foreign power was funding the youth to within the country to incite political dissent.

"There are three to four people who are giving out money to the youth pretending to be helping them and yet they are lying. We will not allow visitors to come here and cause confusion, and we will not be scared to fight with them," said President Kibaki in off-the-cuff remarks.

Ambassador Ranneberger, in his report to the US State Department in January 2010, had characterised President Kibaki and Mr Odinga as part of a political elite that has benefitted from corruption and proceeded to label the duo as anti-reformist.

Sunday's scathing response by the coalition principals to the leaked cables marks a new low in relations between United States and Kenya, but are not expected to alter the diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his formal Jamuhuri day speech, the President took cognisance of the weight of the impending announcement by Ocampo and urged Kenyans to demonstrate "political maturity" during the course of the ICC process.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo will on Wednesday 5 o'clock announce six politicians and businessmen suspected to have masterminded the post-election violence. The announcement will be streamed live via the internet.

"I am aware that the process of dispensing justice in regard to the post election violence has continued to engage the minds of Kenyans. Therefore, as the ICC process gets underway, I urge Kenyans to demonstrate patience and political maturity," said the President.

The President equally issued orders to the police force and the national cohesion commission to crack down on politicians who may issue provocative utterances in the course of the ICC process that may reignite the ethnic animosity the country experienced in 2008.

"Let us all embrace peace and the spirit of forgiveness to enable our nation move ahead. Let us not engage in utterances that compromise our national unity. I, have therefore, directed the Commissioner of Police and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to deal swiftly with any individuals or groups engaging in hate speech," he said.

Kibaki also rallied members of parliament to approved the nominees to two commission which are vital to the implementation of the new constitution.

"We are fully committed to implementing the Constitution in a timely and efficient manner. I, therefore, appeal to Members of Parliament to approve the nominees to the commission for the implementation of the Constitution to ensure that we stick to the agreed schedule," said the President.

fonte: SUNDAY NATION