Speaking in an interview with Kenya's Citizen TV, Kiir thanked South Sudanese for their patience and resilience amid years of political challenges, assuring citizens that "change is coming" through the country's electoral process.
The president said the launch of voter registration would mark the beginning of South Sudan's democratic transition and urged eligible citizens to register in large numbers and vote to elect their leaders.
Kiir said the current structure of government is too large to function effectively, pointing to Parliament's 650 members and the country's five vice presidents as examples of an administration that has become difficult to manage. “This huge government is hindering development,” Kiir said.
"The government is too big," Kiir said, adding that it would be streamlined after the elections as part of reforms aimed at improving governance and strengthening state institutions.
The president also called for national unity, urging South Sudanese not to allow tribal divisions to undermine the country's future. He said the country's 64 tribes should remain united rather than become fragmented, warning that further divisions would create a worse situation for the country.
Kiir said a united population would be better positioned to tackle the country's political and social challenges.
His remarks come as South Sudan prepares for long-delayed elections, with voter registration expected to be one of the first major milestones in the electoral process. The elections are widely seen as a key test of the country's transition and efforts to implement governance reforms.
The interview drew mixed reactions on South Sudanese social media. Some users said it did not address the issues they had expected, while others welcomed it as a positive step, saying it was better than no public address at all.
