President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday, October 16, declared that his detractors will not be allowed to derail the government from implementing development projects including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
The president said SGR holds huge economic benefits for the country and dismissed the project's critics telling them to stop being selfish.
“And I tell all those who are thinking of holding us back that they should relocate to other countries because there is no place for them in Kenya," Uhuru remarked.
Uhuru was speaking in response to various publications that had described Phase 2A of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Nairobi to Naivasha for passenger services, as a waste of resources.
He likened SGR critics to a British Member of Parliament who in 1894 rubbished the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway, claiming it was a “Lunatic Express” leading to “nowhere” thus a waste of the British government money.
“Let me tell you, Mai Mahiu and Suswa is not nowhere. This is Kenya. I know after 20 years Mai Mahiu and Suswa will be developed. We are clear in our vision and we are going somewhere,” the President said.
The Head of State pointed out that what Mai Mahiu and Suswa townships are today is what Nairobi was 150 years ago before the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway.
“We are not only focusing on today. We are looking at 50 years from now. We want to come to Suswa in future not only for politics but to see industries. We want to see our youth working, living well and educating their children,” he stated.
He said Kenya today is boasting of towns like Mombasa, Voi, Machakos, Nairobi, Naivasha Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu because people had a vision and constructed the Kenya-Uganda railway.
“My fellow Kenyans, let us join together and build on our vision, develop our country, be united and not be dissuaded by naysayers who have nothing better to do than to continue putting us in a mood of depression,” he announced.
The president was accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and spoke at Mai Mahiu where he addressed thousands of wananchi.
