Speech by H.E. Shiego Iwatani, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kenya, during the launch of the Green Bicycle Project at Ishiara Location Embu District
16 Jul 10 Remarks by H.E. Mr. Shigeo IWATANI, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kenya during the launch of the Green Bicycle Project at Ishiara Location, Meru District - 15th July 2010 Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen: It gives me immense pleasure to be here today for the launch of the Green Bicycle Project in Ishiara. Through the Green Africa Foundation, the Japan Bicycle Parking Foundation has for this particular project donated 140 bicycles which will be distributed to various learning institutions and Community groups. This will be very helpful to the community as it will increase mobility to access services such as schools, hospitals, markets and communication services. Ladies and Gentlemen; Our valuable cooperation with Kenya started way back in 1964 and to-date we have extended to Kenya a cumulative aid amounting to JPY 408 billion (approximately Ksh 300 billion). The reason why we continue to assist Kenya is because of the strong and friendly relationship that exists between our two countries. As you may be aware, Japan was devastated at the end of the last World War some sixty years ago. We experienced what Kenya is undergoing now and we managed not only to develop but to become the world second biggest economy with some valuable support from the World Bank and charitable organizations but mostly by self-help efforts. That is why we think that we can assist Kenya on development methodologies. We would therefore request the people of Kenya to remember our assistance, not to take it for granted, and to realize that Japan's fund will come only when self-help efforts are being undertaken. I am also happy to mention that the Government of Japan recently contributed one hundred and two million Kenya Shillings (Ksh. 102,145,557) to be used by the Committee of Experts for Civic Education as a part of the preparation for the coming referendum. During the World Cup that just ended, I hope you managed to see the advertisements on TV regarding the referendum. Those advertisements were sponsored by the Government of Japan. It is the strong wish of my Government that the Kenyan people make up their mind based on correct and impartial information about the content of the draft constitution and vote accordingly without any fear of intimidation in a peaceful atmosphere. Ladies and gentlemen; I also wish to mention that here in Eastern Province, we have through our Grant aid funded the Meru Water Project in which we also assisted in setting up the Meru Water and Sewarage Services (MEWASS); and in the very near future we will also going to fund the Embu Water Supply Project. In conclusion, I would like to say that we are very happy to see the bicycles made available by the Japan Bicycle Foundation are utilized in this fashion owing to the tireless and selfless efforts of the Green Africa Foundation and Trocaire to make life easier for this community to improve their living conditions as well as to protect the nature through planting trees. I wish you all continuous success in your endeavors. Asanteni sana
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