It’s time to work towards greater prosperity

By Mwai Kibaki

Kenya: Today, our great nation has crossed the 50 year mark since independence. This is as it should be.  We have commemorated this historic occasion with pageantry and ovation befitting the object of today’s significance to Kenyans wherever they are and whatever age.

Beneath the outpouring of joy and hope this felicitous occasion has handed Kenyans, a fresh horizon of an even greater destiny awaits us all.  We must do all we can to make it happen.  At 50, we owe ourselves the mending of our unfulfilled dreams and the birth of new dreams.

And having thankfully been witnesses to the fortunes that define our 50 year sojourn into nationhood, we are proud to be here today and to be Kenyans. On behalf of those who have been honoured today, I assure all athat we, with humility and deep sense of appreciation, do accept the various awards conferred upon us.  For that honour, we dedicate these awards to two groups of Kenyans.  First, to those who fought for our freedom at various stages of our emancipation.

Second, to our young and gallant men and women who are working hard to create Kenya’s greatness in the next 50 years.  And to His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, I pray for good tidings for the two of you as you chaperon this great nation of ours to great success and peace in the days to come. 

May the worth of the Golden Jubilee Medallions you have been decorated with today illuminate your path as you lead these great people of Kenya to their destiny.

I thank all Kenyans for making this commemoration as eventful and remarkable as it has been.  And to all those who have invested their creativity and time to make this occasion memorable — congratulations!

Finally, we assure Kenyans that we look forward to a better, happier, united and prosperous country.  This we do with outright faith and sense of hope.

Fellow Kenyans, our country is and will be in good stead. Thank you and may God Bless us all!

This was former president Mwai Kibaki’s vote of thanks at the Jubilee ceremony at State House, Nairobi.