Reject liars and elect honest leaders, Uhuru tells Mombasa

President Uhuru Kenyatta waves at the members of the public after touring Nzoia Sugar Company. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, August 4, 2022, implored Kenyans not to vote for his deputy William Ruto saying his web of lies pose a threat to the country's economic and democratic growth.

Uhuru said Ruto's claim that no project had been initiated during the second term of the Jubilee government was a lie to hoodwink gullible voters.

"If he can lie on small issues that there are no projects which people can see, what will he do if he ascends to power? We must reject pathological liars and elect people who are honest," he said.

He declared that it was time for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running Martha Karua to lead the country. He described the pair as principled leaders with integrity.

The president spoke after commissioning and launching several development projects in Mombasa which he said were initiated during his second term.

Uhuru launched the 457-metre Makupa Bridge constructed at a cost of Sh4.5 billion. The bridge links Mombasa Island and the Kenyan hinterland.

He said the bridge will ease the movement of goods and people between the island and the mainland and further strengthen Mombasa's position as a preferred shipping hub.

"The bridge restores Mombasa to its true island status," said President Kenyatta. Mombasa lost island status in 1929 after the British colonial administration constructed Makupa Causeway.

The causeway separated the waters that surrounded Mombasa Island into Tudor Creek to the east and Port Reitz Creek to the west. This hindered free movement of water and marine life.

"The water can now move freely and Mombasa's status as an international island has now been restored. This is a project launched in 2020 but still someone will tell you nothing happened in my second term," said Uhuru.

The president commissioned the Sh40 billion Kilindini Oil Terminal at the Port of Mombasa, which is expected to boost efficiency in the handling of oil imports.

He also launched the rehabilitation of the Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) line that will ease the movement of people to the Standard Gauge Railway SGR terminal at Miritini. "We were able to complete most of these projects because of peace," he said.

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the rehabilitation of the MGR and construction of a section of the SGR where they will connect will cost Sh4.5 billion.

"The 3km MGR will be linked with the SGR so that passengers heading to the Miritini terminal do not incur the current high cost of transport from town," said Mr Macharia.

The president also launched the Liwatoni Fishing Complex which will enable the country to exploit the Blue Economy.

"His excellence will later bid farewell to seafarers who have secured job with international shipping lines," said the CS.