SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H.

, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL VIEWING CEREMONY OF THE 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP TROPHY, COKE PLAZA, UPPER HILL, 2 TH NOVEMBER, 201! Our Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me special pleasure to preside over this important global event. This is yet another moment that the World Cup trophy is touring our country. I understand the maiden visit was in !!". There is no doubt in my mind, this is a great honour #or our country, being among the only eight $%& countries in '#rica that have been selected #or this privilege. I assure you we do not ta(e this gesture #or granted. This event comes at an opportune time when we are celebrating our )! years o# independence. *art o# our celebration will entail recogni+ing and honouring our many sporting heroes. Legendary soccer players, many o# whom were mesmeri+ing maestros on the soccer pitch, are among the heroes to be honoured. To have the golden trophy with us at our Golden ,ubilee is, there#ore, a most touching gesture to all -enyans. .or this, I than( the International .ederation o# .ootball 'ssociations $.I.'& and Coca Cola #or this honour. Ladies and Gentlemen, /ven though we have yet to en0oy the honour o# being paraded at the .I.' World Cup .inals, we remain an avid #ootball1loving and playing nation. We also remain con#ident wor(ing hard, we should be able to 0oin the league o# the World1Cup1.inals winning nations. I e2pect that the #orthcoming tournament will inspire our young people, #ootballers and #ootball sta(eholders to wor( harder so that, not too long in the #uture, we can reali+e this dream. Ladies and Gentlemen, 3occer re4uires talent, stamina, discipline and teamwor(. It also calls #or inspiration, #raternal goodwill and an ambition to win. It unites people in stirring moments o# pure 0oy and celebration. Over time, soccer has moved beyond the con#ining de#inition o# sport to become a way o# li#e #or many people all over the World. The World Cup trophy is recogni+ed all over the world, and is rightly (nown as a global icon. Ladies and Gentlemen, 3port in -enya is growing impressively. 3occer is among the disciplines registering impressive growth. 5y Government, through the 5inistry o# 3ports and Culture, is implementing strategies aimed at boosting the development o# talent and sport in the country. These strategies will be e2ecuted through

educational institutions #rom early primary school, all the way to tertiary institutions. 'side #rom this, my Government intends to support independent talent academies where dedicated s(ill development will be provided. We are committed to having -enya ta(e part in #orthcoming editions o# the World Cup tournament to an advanced level. 6osting the trophy in our country has intensi#ied our desire to (eep it here #or longer than three $7& days in the near #uture. Ladies and Gentlemen, I must also in#orm you that having the World Cup trophy here is a good omen in other ways. Coincidentally, on the Trophy8s last visit, -enya hosted the same tournament. The Council #or /ast and Central '#rica .ootball 'ssociations $C/C'.'& 3enior Challenge Cup begins today, when we hope to score a precious win over our good #riends and neighbours /thiopia in our opening contest. I, there#ore, ta(e this opportunity to urge all -enyans to turn out in great numbers and support our team to victory over the ne2t #ortnight. Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me at this point than( Coca Cola #or the tremendous corporate support e2tended to sports, and especially -enyan #ootball over the years. 9our strong support #or the grassroots youth #ootball tournament, Copa Coca Cola, is highly appreciated. 3o is your support #or the global Trophy tour. On behal# o# the people o# -enya, I e2tend a warm, heart#elt asante sana. I also urge other corporate organisations to ta(e advantage o# the many opportunities to sponsor sports teams, programmes and tournaments in order to boost the Government8s sport development strategies. On similar vein, I than( .I.' on behal# o# the people o# -enya #or the singular opportunity you have a##orded thousands o# -enyans to view the trophy #rom close 4uarter and e2perience the magic o# the :eauti#ul Game. 9ou have touched our hearts. 'sante sana. Ladies and Gentlemen, In conclusion, I call on -enyans who have come to see the Trophy here at the Co(e *la+a, to also go to the ;yayo 3tadium to support our team. To our visitors, please #ind time during your visit to tour and e2perience the beauty and hospitality o# 5agical -enya. T"#$% &'( #$) G') *+,-- &'(.