Kibaki presents donation to Japan for quake victims

By Moses Njagih

President Kibaki has presented a Sh85 million donation from Kenya to Japan Government to assist the victims of the March 11 devastating earthquake and tsunami, which left thousands dead.

The President presented the $1 million relief donation to the Japanese ambassador Toshihisa Takata, terming it a small token from Kenyans to help in the healing process of the Japanese.

The President described the 8.9 Richter scale earthquake, which triggered the destructive tsunami waves of up to 38.9 metres, as a tragedy of an unimaginable severity.

President Mwai Kibaki donates a cheque of one million US dollars to Japanese Ambassador Toshihisa Takata (left), at Harambee House, Monday, to aid victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March. Photo: By Govedi Asutsa.

He said that Kenya being a close ally to the Asian nation, considered extending the donation to help in rebuilding efforts and helping those affected.

Kibaki said that the Government understood the difficulties and challenges that the Government of Japan is facing in addressing the devastation caused by the earthquake.

He however said Kenyans were confident that the Asian economic super power would rise up from the ashes of the calamity that its economy.

"We are confident that through collective efforts the Japanese people will mobilise their aptitude to recover from these challenging circumstances," said the President.

President Kibaki said Kenyans empathised with the Japanese people, especially due to the cordial relationship between the two countries.

"Kenya is the largest recipient of Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Africa, while Nairobi hosts one of the largest Japanese communities in the continent, that shows Japan has been a very good friend of Kenya for a long time," said Kibaki.

The President further said that the friendship of the two countries is further demonstrated by trust that Japan has bestowed on Kenya, placing many of its regional headquarters for major agencies and leading trading houses in Nairobi.

Takata welcomed the donation from Kenya, saying the strong sense of solidarity showed by Kenyans and the Government was a goodwill gesture.

"This is a very big amount of money. The money will help bring the lives of those affected back to normal soon," said the ambassador.

He added: "The solidarity showed to us remind us that we are living in a interdependent world…".

Those present during the function held at President Kibaki’s Harambee House office included acting Foreign Affairs Minister George Saitoti and Special Programmes Minister Esther Murugi.