President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the over Sh500 million recovered from the Jersey graft case will be used to construct drug rehabilitation centres and safe houses for women to protect them from gender-based violence.
According to the PSCU, Uhuru emphasized that his administration will not relent in its war against corruption.
“Those who loot public money will be forced to return it,” he said at State House, Mombasa, when he addressed over 8,000 youth, women and elders drawn from the six counties of the Coast region.
He assured of his government’s commitment to mainstreaming youth and women affairs in the development agenda.
The Head of State also urged Coast residents to walk with the Jubilee government in development.
He outlined various development projects his administration has implement in the region since it came to office ranging from infrastructure and water projects to electricity connections and issuance of title deeds.
“We are delivering the promise we made. We have constructed more roads, connected more houses to electricity and issued more title deeds in the last three years than had been done since independence,” President Kenyatta said.
Uhuru reiterated his call to the people of the Coast region to unite and work together regardless of tribe, religion or political party affiliation.
“The needs people have known no religion, tribe or political party,” President Kenyatta said.
Kilifi North Member of Parliament Gideon Mung’aro and Mijikenda Community Council of Elders secretary Vincent Mwachiro spoke on development, saying the region will support the Government because of the projects it has implemented.
Mung’aro cited the Kaloleni – Mavueni, the Mariakani – Kaloleni, Maji ya Chumvi-Voi, Mwatate – Wundanyi, Mwatate – Taveta, Bamba –Mariakani, Malindi – Sala Gate, Malindi – Garsen and Lunga lunga-Vanga as some of the roads that are either complete or are under rehabilitation.
Other projects are street lighting, water and irrigation projects, Mung’aro said.
Other speakers were Rev Samuel Kobia and Red Cross secretary general Abbas Gullet who spoke on peace and cohesion.
Cabinet Secretaries Joseph Nkaissery (Interior) and Sicily Kariuki (Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs) outlined what their ministries are doing to promote security and gender equality respectively.
Early this year, Jersey authorities seized the stash of cash that former Kenya Power managing director Samuel Gichuru and former Energy minister Chris Okemo hid in the island.