STATEMENT FOR PRESS BRIEFING Ladies and gentlemen, Friends I thank you for coming to my inaugural briefing, here

in the grounds of State House Nairobi, one of our capitals iconic buildings. My intention is to hold regular briefings to bring you up to speed on the President and Governments various initiatives, as well as respond to some of the issues of concern to yourselves and the country. ICC: In the past few days, many of you have sent me messages concerning matters in The Hague. But you will understand that this a matter about which I can say little to nothing. I can certainly tell you that it was a distressful day for the President. The President watched the opening arguments by Prosecutor Bensouda and the corresponding opening by lawyer Karim Khan. Knowing how far he has come with the Deputy President, and knowing that promoting national cohesion and unity has always been at the heart of their approach to politics, the President felt deeply saddened about the whole episode. The approach of the President and Deputy President to the ICC remains the same. The President and Deputy President have always cooperated and will continue to do so, but this must be within the context of our own Constitutional requirements. Many of you have asked what next after both Houses of Parliament voted for Kenya to opt out of the Rome Statute. Government is obviously sensitive to voices of the people, and those voices are articulated by their duly elected representatives. But the President and his Government have yet to apply themselves to that question. The President continues with his broad agenda to deliver economic growth and improve the welfare of the Kenyan people. And I will now turn to some of that work. AGRICULTURE:

As you are aware, ensuring that farmers have adequate supplies of affordable fertilizer has been a major priority of the Administration and there has been progress. In quick succession, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Kosgei has visited Russia, Argentina and Brazil and, there is progress to report. In Russia, Secretary Kosgei met the Fertilizer Producers Association and the sum result is that discussions are advanced on the supply of fertilizers at preferential prices. That will result in prices much lower than the current market prices. Following that visit as well, producers in Ukraine, Slovakia and Belarus have asked that they also be invited to supply fertilizers and Secretary Kosgeis team is looking at that. Secretary Kosgei is also exploring the important subject of setting up of a fertilizer plant here for the domestic and regional market. A new Expression of Interest will be posted in due course. There is strong interest from Russia, Japan and Brazil. This project will have the heavy participation of the private sector and Secretary Kosgei is pursuing those alternatives as we speak. During his Latin American visit, Secretary Kosgei re-activated an $83 million (Sh7.2 billion) line of credit, which will essentially go to the supply of farm equipment from small to big tractors ranging from 50 to 160 horsepower for our farmers. He also signed an MOU on agriculture cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture in Argentina. We are very big on this South-South Cooperation and it is bearing rapid fruit. Friends, INFRASTRUCTURE: You would also have realized, by now, that Infrastructure is a major priority of this Administration. Earlier this month, President Kenyatta hosted a regional infrastructure summit in Mombasa where he declared that he wanted to see the port become the biggest and most efficient in our part of the world. Berth 19 was birthed. The Port of Mombasa has now been included among the worlds top 120 performers, alongside only 5 others in Africa including Morocco, Egypt and South Africa and thats some progress. Not as good as should be but we are headed in the right direction. New Berths, 20 to 23, are now under construction and will further increase capacity at what is now recognized as East Africas gateway.

This is also accompanied by faster truck turnaround time along the corridor, which is now 4.8 days compared to up to 13 days prior to the launch of the initiative on June 19. The transit cargo dwell time for Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi -- has also significantly reduced from about 10 days to 6 currently. Linked to that is the question of faster movement of goods and services in the region, and work on the Standard Gauge Rail is due to start in November that is, in 2 months time. JKIA: As you are aware, smooth operations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is a top, top priority of the Administration. The President had specifically asked for construction of a temporary terminal with a capacity of 2.5 million passengers a year. An initial tender for that terminal was issued, but cancelled after a few irregularities were noticed. The Ministry of Transport is now re-launching bids with funds from the African Development Bank. This should go to tender next week. That said, to enhance comfort at the airport, the Garage Facility at the new Terminal Four has now been opened for Arrivals. Tomorrow, we will start removing tents. Only the tent in the area reserved for busing of passengers will remain. Media are invited for a tour of those facilities tomorrow at 11 am. ENERGY: This Administration is also firmly committed to raising electricity capacity by 5,000 megawatts in the next 36-40 months. There are quarters that have suggested that this is very ambitious. But the fact that there were 1,110 companies that registered at our Energy Open Day this week, and the fact that they are committed as we are to the project, confirms that this is a target that we will meet well ahead of schedule. This energy drive will see investment in the region of $20 billion in the next 40 months and is the most audacious initiative to improve our economy, and better the lives of our people. There is so much interest.

The purpose of this Administration is not to raise energy capacity for its own sake. It is to do so at competitive rates so that it is affordable to families, and so it can reduce the costs in industry. KENYA@50: As you are aware, last month President Kenyatta disbanded the committee tasked with arranging celebrations to mark our countrys 50 years of independence. The President has now agreed to the formation of a new 19-member steering committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Arts, Dr Hassan Wario. The team will work with a full-time Secretariat, whose Executive Director is Saima Ondimu. As you recall, the budget was a particular issue of concern to the President. Dr Wario will work with a provisional budget of 500 million shillings. The Private Sector will be heavily involved in Kenya@50 and we expect to see millions of private sector shillings in supporting the initiative. This committee is responsible for communicating Kenyas achievements to the citizenry, by showcasing our countrys heritage and historical moments. This will be done through collaboration with county governments, ensuring the committee works with effectiveness while ensuring accountability. The Committee will go to work immediately. Devolution Devolution of functions to the counties is on course, and funds have begun to be released to the county governments. It is important to point out that though the law sets out a minimum of 15 per cent of the most recent Government audited revenues, this Administration allocated 32.6 per cent or Sh210 billion. Also, sector consultative fora have been established between line ministries in the national government and their equivalents in all the 47 county governments. IDPS

The Government has taken decisive action to bring to a close the shame of IDP camps in our country. It has given Sh400,000 to the more than 8,200 remaining IDP households. This will help them get out of the camps and start their lives all again in dignity.

Uwezo Fund Last weekend, the President and the Deputy President launched a Sh6 billion fund from which the youth and women can borrow free-interest loans. This is an effort to tackle unemployment and reduce poverty. Parastatal reform About 6 weeks ago, the President set up a taskforce to streamline State corporations so that they play a more productive role in national development. The taskforces tenure ends this week, after which it will present a report to the President. MEDIA CONFERENCE: Finally, the President met members of the board of the African Media Initiative and Welcomes the groups plans to hold an international conference here around March 6 focused on telling the African story. Manoah Esipisu Secretary of Communication and State House Spokesperson