President begins tour of Coast to open ASK show

By Jibril Adan and Willis Oketch

President Kibaki starts a five-day tour of the Coast Province today.

The President, who was expected to jet into Mombasa last night, will today open the Mombasa ASK show.

His arrival also coincides with the end of the National Music Festivals that had been going on for the past week.

On Friday, selected schools and college choirs that participated in the festival will entertain the President.

On Saturday, he will open a new road at Maji ya Chumvi, which was completed recently.

Presidential Press Service Director Isaiah Kabira said the Head of State will on Monday tour the Hola irrigation scheme, which has been revived to boost food production. The programme will be implemented under the economic stimulus package.

Billboards mounted

Ministries of Water, Agriculture, Youth and Northern Kenya Development will oversee the revival of the scheme, which collapsed in 1989.

The Hola and Bura schemes have an irrigation potential of 8,750 and 13,750 acres, while developed land is only 1,200 and 5,000 acres.

Preparations to welcome the President to the town were in high gear yesterday with some politicians mounting billboards with their pictures.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister William Ruto said the Government has tamed skyrocketing maize flour prices by allowing massive importation of maize.

Mr Ruto said since the Government allowed maize imports duty free the price escalation had stopped.

Speaking at the Mombasa showground Ruto said: "We have stabilised the prices after allowing the private sectors to import more maize to supplement what the Government is importing."

The minister said Kenya was not the only country facing the effects of drought.

"The harsh climate is worldwide and that is why food prices are high everywhere," said Ruto. National ASK chairman Justice Stewart Madzayo accompanied the minister.

Ruto said extension service providers would soon work closely with all stakeholders to educate the farmers on types of food they should grow.

　

 

 

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