President Uhuru addresses the public after attending Mass at Our Lady of Consolata Catholic Cathedral Church in Nyeri town on Sunday. [Photo: Mose Sammy/Standard]

By Wainaina Ndung’u

Nyeri, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta said the Government will not relent in the fight against crime.

Speaking in Nyeri, the president said criminals had only one option – to stop the vice or face full force of law. “Let no one say they were never warned,” the president told a crowd after he attended Sunday Mass at Nyeri Archdiocese cathedral.

Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi had urged the president to act on increased crime in the area, especially theft of motorcycles.

The president said the Government had formulated a crime eradication strategy and asked police to implement it indiscriminately.

“As a Government, we have no doubt that insecurity can even slow down economic growth. We are taking it very seriously,” said the president. The president added he has full confidence that the Cabinet he had chosen is fully capable of achieving double-digit growth.

Introducing Transport and Infrastructure Secretary Michael Kamau at his native county of Nyeri, Uhuru said he had brought in highly qualified Kenyans who will help Kenya claim its pride in the continent.

“By bringing in professionals, we are saying we recognise that politicking has ended and it is now time to work. It will be easier if we approached national building as one nation,” said Uhuru.

Delving into the demand for increased pay by MPs and County Assembly members, the president said he wanted officers serving in his Government, including MPs, to put service to people first.

Living standards

He said public officials should help Kenya achieve double-digit growth thereby lifting living standards of the lowest in society and consequently demand salary increases for its hard working servants.

Eng Kamau, who has been the Ministry of Roads PS during President Kibaki’s tenure, said he was honoured and added Nyeri County should be proud that he was one of the 16 Cabinet secretaries chosen by president.

During the event, there were indications that former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Eugene Wamalwa could be headed back to the Cabinet.

Wamalwa, who was with Uhuru, was introduced as a guest of the president and was given two chances to speak to Nyeri town residents.

Kamau invited Eugene to make a “short address” during service at Nyeri cathedral and shortly, thereafter, at Nyeri town centre.

Eugene hailed the election of Jubilee government as final attainment of his dream to have a digital generation in charge of the country.