January 3, 1979: President Moi orders that people who have allocated themselves plots at Kenyatta Public Beach should vacate them. Addressing a civil luncheon given in his honour by Mombasa Municipal Commission, the President wondered where people would go for recreation and to swim if people started allocating themselves beach plots meant for public use. Amid cheers from the crowd. President Moi said: “Kenyatta Public Beach must remain a place for those interested to swim in public to do so. All those who acquired plots there must vacate.” The President expressed surprise that some people had also allocated themselves plots on school playing grounds. He said school playing grounds should be reserved for use by school children.

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