Kibaki tells church leaders to mobilise faithful in voter listing

By Wainaina Ndung’u

NYERI; KENYA: President Kibaki has appealed to church leaders to advise congregations to register as voters in readiness for March 4 elections.

Speaking in Nyeri, the President urged churches to send out an appeal to their members to turn out in large numbers and register as the exercise enters its last week.

“Registering to vote is one of the most important civic duties of the citizens, and religious organisations can help increase those registering,” said the President.

He also called for political tolerance, saying Kenyans must use the next elections to demonstrate the country has matured in its understanding of democracy and people can agree to disagree. President Kibaki spoke while awarding a charter to Kimathi University in Nyeri, which became the first of 15 public university colleges he is likely to upgrade before he retires.

Charted signed

The president signed the Charter and also unveiled a mace, logo and an official seal for the university in his Nyeri County in a ceremony attended by other local MPs and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Former Moi University Vice-Chancellor Prof Sheremiah Okoth Keya was installed as the university chancellor while Prof Ndirangu Kioni became the Vice-Chancellor.

He said the new Universities Act, which he signed into law on Thursday, would revolutionise higher education in the country and help in achieving the Vision 2030 and other ideals of the new Constitution.

“A strengthened Commission for University Education is mandated to ensure access, equity, relevance and quality is available to those who qualifying for higher education,” said President Kibaki.

Higher Education minister Margaret Kamar termed the upgrade “significant” while paying tribute to rapid expansion of universities in the country during the Kibaki presidency. She  said Kimathi is one of the three technical universities to be unveiled within the 15 colleges being upgraded and will be required to retain their science and technology bias.

Dedan Kimathi University becomes eighth public university in the country.