TRIBAL DANCERS; CROWDS; PRESIDENT KENYATTA AND WIFE; KENYATTA ADDRESSES CROWD; MARCH PAST.




Initials JPC/VS/BOB/MJB



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Background: PRESIDENT KENYATTA ADDRESSED A MASS RALLY, ESTIMATED AT 350,000 PEOPLE, IN MOMBASA AND CONDEMNED RECENT RUMOURS OF TRIBALISM WHICH HAVE BEEN SWEEPING THE COUNTRY.

THE RALLY WAS HELD THE DAY AFTER THE LAUNCHING OF A NEW EAST AFRICAN SHIPPING LINE VESSEL, BY PRESIDENT KAUNDA OF ZAMBIA. PRESIDENT JULIUS NYERERE ALSO ATTENDED THE LAUNCHING, BUT NEITHER VISITING PRESIDENT STAYED ON FOR THE RALLY.

PRESIDENT KENYATTA STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE TRIBALISM AND RUMOUR MONGERING WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE RALLY. THE PRESIDENT'S WARNING CAME AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF OATH TAKING CEREMONIES BY THE KIKUYU PEOPLE WERE MADE BY THE OPPOSITION MINORITY KENYA PEOPLE'S UNION (KPU) IN PARLIAMENT LAST WEEK. HE SAID, "THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT OF KENYA IS DETERMINED TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS AND LEAD THEM TO THE PATH OF WEALTH AND PROSPERITY."
HE TOLD THE RALLY THAT THERE WERE ELEMENTS WITHIN KENYA ATTEMPTING TO CONFUSE THE MASSES AND INTERFERE WITH THE UNITY OF THE COUNTRY BY POISONING THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE BY ADVOCATING TRIBALISM.

THE PEOPLE OF KENYA MUST REMAIN RESOLUTE AND UNITED AS THEY DID IN THE PRE-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD. "THIS UNITY MUST BE MAINTAINED AND TRIBALISM MUST BE STAMPED OUT."
THE PRESIDENT, WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, TOOK THE SALUTE AT A MARCH PAST WHICH INCLUDED CONTINGENTS FROM THE KENYA ARMED FORCES, GENERAL SERVICES UNITS, KENYA NAVY, POLICE, NATIONAL SERVICES, PRISON SERVICE AND BOY SCOUTS. THEY ALSO WATCHED A DISPLAY OF TRIBAL DANCING.