A military chopper ferrying president Mwai Kibaki from Marani to Kibabe in Kisii North district made an emergency landing  after developing a technical problem. A military statement said one of the two engines of the military Puma helicoper malfunctioned on take off forcing the pilot to land immediately.  The president who has been on a two-day tour of Kisii region was heading to North Mugirango in the company of the Area Member of Parliament Richard Onyonka when the malfunction occurred.

Department of Defence spokesman Bogita Ongeri said the head of state was immediately transferred to a support helicopter and proceeded with his tour of Kisii region.  The president normally has three military choppers at his disposal and a fleet of vehicles whenever he travels anywhere in the country. The choppers, which have a good record of reliability, are maintained by the armed forces of which the president is the commander in Chief.

Meanwhile, President Kibaki has called on leaders to shun diversionary politics and instead focus on rendering services to wananchi in line with the policies of the grand Coalition Government. President Kibaki said political inclinations should not be a barrier for leaders to work together in achieving the development agenda for the Country. Addressing a crowd at Nyamarambe play grounds, president Kibaki commended MPs from the Abagusii community for their decision to work together regardless of their political affiliations and assured them of his support in achieving the development agenda for the region.

During the occasion, the Head of State directed the immediately release of funds required to facilitate  construction of Mogonga-Kenyenya-Nyamarambe-Kamagambo Road that cuts across the larger Gucha District. President Kibaki noted that the key road would open up and facilitate maximum exploitation of the huge agricultural potential in the area. The Mogonga-Kenyenya-Nyamarambe-Kamagambo Road requires Kshs 157 million to complete the construction.

The Head of State further directed the upgrading of the Nduru health centre to a modern district hospital commensurate with the creation of Gucha south District to provide better health services. The Head of State said that the Government would further fund construction of a modern sugar factory to avert huger losses incurred by cane farmers in the area due to low crushing capacity of the Sony sugar factory in the neighbouring Rongo District. The President however urged area residents and Kenyans at large to pay taxes to enable the Government raise enough funds for such projects and therefore fulfill pledges made during the campaigns to accelerate the rate economic development of the country

The area MP Omingo Magara commended the Government for releasing Kshs. 10 million for the construction of Gucha South District Headquarters. On his part education Minister Prof Sam Ongeri noted that Kenyans were presently yearning and only interested in development issues such as education, provision of water, health services and rural electrification among others.

Other speakers were Prof George Saitoti Internal Security, Public Works Chris Obure among other MPs drawn from the larger Kisii region among other senior Government officials.