President Kibaki has urged Kenyans to embrace peace as they go into the elections. He said a peaceful election will send the right signals to investors.

Kibaki said a peaceful poll is important for tourism as it will boost the country's position as a preferred tourist destination. "A peaceful and just election will send the right signals that we are a people tolerant to different shades of opinion and varying political affiliations," he said.

The President was speaking yesterday when he opened the Sh2 billion Boma Hotel in Nairobi. The hotel is owned by the Kenya Red Cross Society which President Kibaki is the patron.

He commended the leadership of the Kenya Red Cross Society for actively seeking to be financially stable. He said the new hotel will not only supplement the income of the organisation but it will also boost Kenya's tourism.

The President encouraged other non-profit organisations to develop innovative income generating projects in order to by financially independent.

Tourism minister Dan Mwazo and his Special Programmes counterpart Esther Murugi supported the establishment of the hotel, saying it will go a long way in providing the necessary resources for its humanitarian activities. A number of MPs had questioned in Parliament why the Red Cross was engaging in income generating activities.