Kanze Dena on Tuesday issued a press briefing at State House, Nairobi, touching on several topics, including the death of Bob Collymore, Harambee Stars AFCON performance, and the State Visit by President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan.
The State House Spokesperson also clarified her earlier statement on the 800,000 jobs created by the economy last year.
Read the full statement below.
1. The Death of Bob Collymore, Safaricom CEO
Today, we start our briefing on a sombre note. Yesterday, the country lost one of its outstanding corporate leaders.
Bob Collymore, the CEO of Safaricom who passed on yesterday, was a man of integrity and one of Kenya’s most accomplished managers.
Besides his demanding role at Safaricom, the late Collymore was a member of our country’s Vision 2030 Board, a role he excellently performed. His invaluable contribution to the socio-economic transformation of our nation should be emulated.
President Kenyatta joins the family in mourning Bob, not only as the Head of State but as his close confidant.
2. State Visit by President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan
His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan arrived in the country yesterday morning for a two-day State Visit.
During yesterday’s meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta, the two Heads of State and their respective delegations discussed and agreed on a wide range of bilateral and regional matters as communicated by our office yesterday.
Most importantly, the two Heads of State resolved to give priority to the restoration of peace and stability in South Sudan; agreed to deepen trade ties; and agreed to fast-track the implementation of regional integration projects, top on the list being the LAPSSET Corridor projects.
Overall, the State Visit by President Salva Kiir was hugely productive. We thank President Kiir for honouring us with his presence and look forward to the completion of these agreements for the benefit of our two Republics.
3. Clarification on jobs created
During my last briefing, I announced that last year, the economy created in excess of 800,000 employment opportunities. This announcement created an awakening that inspired a healthy national conversation over the last two weeks.
On the 800,000 jobs created by the economy last year, allow me to make the following clarification. Contrary to some assertions, it is not the Government alone that created these jobs. It is the economy collectively. The economy covers the public sector, private sector, Kenyans in the informal sector, our SME’s… all productive segments of our economy working together.
Further, I would like to assure the country that the President is resolutely committed to creating jobs for Kenyans, especially for our young people.
You’ll remember that a few days ago, President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the Shs 100 billion Young Africa Works public-private partnership that seeks to prepare over 5 million young Kenyans for the job market.
The President followed this up by opening the revamped Rivatex Textile factory through which the Government projects to generate over 3000 direct jobs and thousands of other related jobs linked to agriculture.
4. Harambee Stars AFCON performance
The return of our national football team Harambee Stars to elite league of soccer teams in Africa has been a great source of pride for our country. Our boys have done their country proud and deserve collective support from all of us despite their defeat by Senegal last night.
It is important to note that unlike in the past, this time around, Harambee Stars has been fully facilitated by the Government through the National Sports Fund that enabled the team to conduct a series of pre-match training in Paris, France.
The excellent performance by our national soccer team has placed the country on the global map.
And as announced by the President, the Government will ensure that all national teams on international assignments are fully supported by the Sports Fund.
5. WRC candidate Safari Rally event
President Uhuru Kenyatta will on Friday, 5th July 2019 flag-off the Safari Rally at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
This year’s Motorsport event is special because it is a candidate event for the return of the Safari Rally to the World Rally Championship calendar, returning Kenya to the global map of motorsport.
We look forward to a thrilling competition over the three days and ask motorsport enthusiasts to come out in large numbers to support our Kenyan participants, among them the State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita in Car No. 60.
6. Status Report on the Cargo Imported by Small Scale Traders
As of 27th May 2019 Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS had released 209 containers belonging to small-scale traders while 130 others were still under the clearance process. On the same date, 91 containers were still undeclared by the traders.
So far the Government agencies involved with the process have received seven lists from Small Scale Traders for 676 containers and not 1000 units as had earlier been claimed.
Out of the 676 containers, 84 units contained edible oil which was declared unfit for human consumption.
As of 29th May, 162 containers were in the validation progress by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) respectively.
By then the agencies had released 98 containers with 294 units under clearance process by the same agencies.
