REPUBLIC OF KENYA

THE PRESIDENCY
MINISTRY OF DEVOLUTION AND PLANNING
OFFICE OF THE CABINET SECRETARY

DRAFT SPEECH BY MS. ANNE WAIGURU, OGW, CABINET SECRETARY

FOR MINISTRY OF DEVOLUTION AND PLANNING DURING THE GOLD
AWARD PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT STATE HOUSE NAIROBI ON 7TH
OCTOBER 2015
Your Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence
Forces of the Republic of Kenya and Patron to the Presidents Award
Kenya,
My Colleague, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Education Science
and Technology, Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi,
Government officials present,
Members of the Board of Trustees of the Presidents Award,
Regional Director of the Duke of Edinburgh Award for Africa and the
Indian Ocean Islands,
Director, Presidents Award,
Supporters of the Award Programme, Mentors, Awardees, Students,
Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your Excellency,
My Ministry is honored to be entrusted by Your Excellency with the affairs of our
nations young who we know hold the promise for delivering our country to the
prosperous reality that we envisage. Your Excellency we are inspired each day
and encouraged by the genuine interest you continue to show in empowering the
young generation and your focus to invest in them so that they can be
productive members of our Kenyan society. The time you have taken out of your
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very busy schedule to host us today is evidence of your unwavering commitment

and support for the youth of this nation and we thank you immensely for that.
Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen,
The Presidents Award-Kenya has been useful in equipping our young people with
soft skills that enhance their capability to face future challenges and cope with
the serious responsibilities that come with adult life. The schemes approach to
encourage volunteerism, personal discovery, perseverance, responsibility to one
self, and service to the community, is very consistent with the transformative
agenda your Government has set out for the youth of Kenya. From where I sit,
it is easy to see the place for the presidential Award Scheme in complementing
major initiatives such as the National Youth Service youth Resocialization
programme and the Kenya National Volunteers Programme both championed by
your Excellency through the Presidency.
Your Excellency,
Your Government has placed youth empowerment front-and-centre of your
administrations agenda. Youth empowerment is no longer the responsibility of
just one docket but has been mainstreamed across all Ministries, Agencies and
Departments. I am happy to report that our young people are making good use
of the existing opportunities to better themselves and the society.
Young people require to be molded into holistic individuals, competent enough to
measure up to the roles and responsibilities that they need to play. The
Presidents Award-Kenya responds to this area of need and helps develop the
character of our young people; enabling them to grow in character which helps
them maneuver in all spheres of life and makes them attractive to prospective
employers.
Your Excellency, Ladies and gentlemen,
As parents, we always hope and pray that the decisions that are made for our
children will propel them to a prosperous future; and so we strive to provide an
environment for them to make decisions that bring then as close as possible to
such a future. My son is one of those being awarded here today. I am extremely
proud of his decision to involve himself in the Presidents Award programme.
During the course of his journey through it, I have seen him grow and stretch
himself beyond what he thought he was capable of. He has learnt build teams in
the most trying times and work with his mates to overcome hurdles and tackle
difficult situations assigned to them.
He has become more tolerant of others shortcomings; more helpful to his
teammates and brothers; innovative in dealing with challenges and most of all,
he has his decisions and stick to them till the end like he did with this
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programme. He owned his decision to be in it, confronted every challenge with

courage and finished strong. I believe what I say of my son, holds true for every
single one of the awardees. Although as a parent I have done the much I could
to teach him these lessons, I have observed that the Presidents Award
Programme crystallized these lessons in my son and for that, as a mother, I am
truly grateful.
I congratulate the Gold Awardees being recognized today. I urge you all to be
role models to your peers and patriots for your country; perpetuate the ideals of
the Award Programme amongst those younger than yourselves. I cannot fail to
acknowledge the trainers, teachers and mentors of The Presidents Award. You
are doing an exemplary job. Our children have been born and raised in times
different from previous generations. They are not like us. Most times society has
taught them that only the best win and that their personal welfare is more
important than that of their classmates. But through your mentorship and
through this Programme, they have learnt that qualities such as dependability
and respect are just as important as creativity and independent thinking. We
thank you.
Your Excellency,
With your permission, it is now my pleasure to invite the His Excellency, The
President, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta to make his remarks.
Thank you.