President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on Kenyan leaders to be visionary so as to contribute in building a strong and prosperous nation for present and future generations.
The President said the country needs leaders who are development conscious and are able to guide their communities to greater heights instead of concentrating on cheap politics.
“Our calling is the need to develop the whole country, we are not interested in politics. We finished politics last year, those who want to continue politicking should wait until 2022,” Uhuru said.
Uhuru spoke at Machakos Girls High School where he joined mourners for the burial ceremony of Mzee Raphael Mwangangi Waita.
The late Waita was the father of Nzioka Siwadie Waita, the Chief of Staff and head of the President’s Delivery Unit (PDU).
The President urged Kenyans to follow the example set by older generation of leaders who he argued had a sense of nationhood, patriotism and high integrity in steering the country and setting strong development foundation.
“We have all heard about his life, we also need to emulate him. If we follow in his footsteps, then I assure you we can achieve much more development as a country,” Uhuru said.
He said Mzee Waita did not look at tribe when marrying, like many others of his generation he transcended the cultural and ethnic barriers of their time and built strong bonds among different communities.
All of us have heard what was said of him while in America. He was not tribal when he saw a beautiful lady whom he could share his life with, he didn’t want to hear anything else.
"They married and lived in love raising a great family and lived together harmoniously, this is the Kenya we want,” Uhuru said.
He paid a glowing tribute to the late Waita whose values and ethos of hard work he said are reflected by his children serving in various capacities both in public and private sectors.
“Although I didn’t know him personally, I have seen these virtues in his son whom I work with. All these issues they have talked about Mzee here, his integrity, respect for people, his discipline I can say, without a doubt, all that is true in the life of Nzioka,” the President added.
“ Integrity, discipline, love for the country is the hallmark of that young man and am sure the hallmark of the entire family,” Uhuru said.
Uhuru called on the family to continue with the same spirit of showing each other love and maintain the virtues and ethos of hard work as exemplified by the father.
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, his Makueni counterpart Kivutha Kibwana and the Machakos town MP Victor Munyaka thanked President Kenyatta for being focused in ensuring the country continues on the path of development.
“You have stood firm, focused on the development and this is what enabled you to be re-elected to serve Kenyans,” Governor Mutua said.
Mutua urged Kamba alders to guide the community to follow on the right path just as the late Waita did so as for benefit from development projects being initiated by the national government.
Makueni Governor Kibwana invited President Kenyatta to his county to help in initiating development projects, which would benefit the residents.
“ It is my prayer that the Kamba leaders would advise our community so as to follow the path of development progress, being experienced in other parts of the country,” Kibwana said.
Machakos town MP Victor Munyaka eulogized Waita as a champion and hero of development whose legacy would continue to inspire many people for years to come.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amb. Monica Juma also spoke on behalf of Cabinet Secretaries.
Senior government officials including Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, Principal Secretaries and Kenyans from all walks of life attended the burial ceremony.
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