PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday declared total war on the drug menace in the Coast region, saying no effort will be spared in eradicating the scourge.
He called on all leaders to join hands and work with the security agencies to ensure that drugs are eliminated completely and traffickers are made to pay for their crime.
“My administration will not relent. We shall destroy any vessel on land, sea or air that is confirmed to be carrying drugs,” the President said.
Saying the government will not allow illicit brewers and drug traffickers and their outlets to destroy lives, President Kenyatta emphasised that the state will intensify operations against them across the entire region.
President Kenyatta spoke when he officially opened this year’s Agricultural Society of Kenya Mombasa International Show in the Mombasa showground, Mkomani. For the fourth year running, the ASK has retained the theme of “Enhancing Technology in Agriculture and Industry for Food Security and National Growth”.
On the war on terror, the President appealed to parents whose children have disappeared to work closely with the security agencies to ensure they return.
He directed the region’s security committees to investigate and establish whether the young people who have disappeared were recruited by terrorist networks or not.
“Work with political, religious and community leaders to rehabilitate the youth,” President Kenyatta told the security committees.
The President applauded efforts that are restoring security in the Coast region, saying as a result the tourism industry has started recovering.
President Kenyatta called on Coast residents to guard against tribalism and divisive politics.
“Kenya belongs to all of us and we should work together in harmony to build a country that we will all be proud of,” he said.
The President assured farmers that the government is doing its best to promote agriculture in the Coast region. He cited the fishing industry as one of the potential areas that the Government is keen to improve for the benefit of the people.
He also affirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the land problem at the Coast, saying the second phase of issuance of title deeds in the region is set to begin.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho assured the President that the county government is working hand-in-hand with the national government in maintaining security in the county.
“Your Excellency, I assure you that we will work with you and the national government in improving the lives of people in Mombasa county,” Governor Joho said.
The Governor emphasised that there is no competition between the two levels of government in Mombasa, saying the county and the national governments are complementing each other in the provision of service to the people.
Other speakers were Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed, acting ASK national chairperson Annabella Kiriinya and Mombasa International Show chairman Brown Ondego.