KENYATTA ARRIVING; MARCHERS; DANCERS; PROCESSION;



KENYATTA SPEAKING (SWAHILI SOF).




Initials GEP/V/AS/MJB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: PRESIDENT JOMO KENYATTA OF KENYA WAS ONE OF THE AFRICAN LEADERS WHOSE MAY DAY SPEECH CALLED ON THEIR PEOPLE TO WORK HARD TO ASSURE THE FUTURE OF THEIR COUNTRY. HE WAS ADDRESSING A CROWD OF OVER FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO GATHERED AT THE NAIROBI CITY STADIUM TO WATCH AND TAKE PART IN THE MAY DAY PARADE.

THE PRESIDENT, ACCOMPANIED BY MEMBERS IF THE GOVERNING KENYA AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION, CABINET MINISTERS AND UNION WORKERS WATCHED A LONG PARADE OF WORKERS CARRYING FLAGS AND PLACARDS ASSURING HIM OF THEIR SUPPORT FOR HIM PERSONALLY AND FOR HIS GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES. THE CEREMONIES ALSO INCLUDED A COLOURFUL DISPLAY OF TRADITIONAL DANCING - NOTABLY BY MASAI WARRIORS.

SPEAKING IN SWAHILI, PRESIDENT KENYATTA TOLD THE GATHERING THAT THE ONLY WAY KENYA COULD ACHIEVE COMPLETE FREEDOM AND EQUALITY WITH OTHER NATIONS IN THE WORLD WAS BY WORK. "THE PEOPLE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO MANY YEARS OF HARD WORK TO MAKE KENYA A FULL COUNTRY" HE SAID AMID CHEERS FROM THE CROWD. IN HIS SPEECH THE PRESIDENT ALSO PLEDGED TO TAKE SEVERE MEASURES AGAINST GANGS OF ARMED ROBBERS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN NAIROBI RECENTLY. DECLARING THAT HE WOULD SHOW THEM NO MERCY, HE SAID IF NECESSARY THE COURTS WOULD AUTHORISE THOSE FOUND GUILTY TO BE HANGED.