Kenya Community Link

Socio-Economic Project - Website Development

Our World

With every new day, the world remains indifferent. World people are in constant efforts to meeting needs and this is what has brought competition. The resource-based context has created gaps; gaps between developed and developing countries, gaps between the have and have-nots, gaps between the white and black colour, gaps between the rich and the poor. Gaps, which have caused violent conflicts between citizens and countries.  These violent conflicts have led to loss of thousands of lives, destruction of property, breaking of family units amongst other severe impacts.  A handful states and even people are benefiting from these conflicts. Our world has enough resources and capacity to cater for its people 7 billion inhabitants. 

My Contribution

My desire is to see stable peace between individuals and countries. Locally, i yearn to see my community live in harmony with neighbouring communities. I crave to see inter-community dialogues, cross-cultural events, citizens respecting human rights and laws.  These are the changes I wan to make. I want to create a community where dialogue is given attention and space, where human rights are observed and where the societies co-exist without fear.

My Exploration

During the fellowship year, I wish to explore community peace recovery and reconciliation systems. I wish to focus of technological structures that would create peace and understanding between communities. I plan to use information and communication technology to reach stakeholders in working in peace, security and development. I will also explore how to use technology to resource mobilize for community development projects to address the issue of poverty and limited opportunities to enable people meet their livelihood needs. I wish to explore all that is takes to improve the living standards of the poor and dissenting communities.

Plan of Activities

To get there, I will get and increase my expertise, especially on ICT, Community Development and Peace Work. I need to establish an information system and website that will inform the community of best practices, available opportunities and alternative methods and means to development. Through the information system, will also be able to link the communities to social services, development trainings and resources locally and internationally. I will use the website to resource mobilize and share ideas generated from community assessment with stakeholders for the sole purpose of promoting welfare of the communities.

UN-Habitat and Municipal Council of Kisumu Inventive Project

A few months ago UN-Habitat and MCK called from proposals from all the wards within the council aimed at improving livelihoods through urban agriculture while mainstreaming HIV-AIDS and Solid Waste Management. On 23^rd November there was official launch of the project at Kisumu Social Hall which saw the announcement and receipts of the checks for the successful groups. In every ward, a qualified youth group and a women group had to be awarded a sum of 100,000 Kenya Shillings for either urban agriculture or solid waste management project.

 

Copy of a check given to Soul Brothers, 14 groups benefited from the UN-Habitat, MCK Projct

The in attendance was the DC, Councils Officials and UN Habitat Representatives and the beneficiaries. Key part of the project was at proposal evaluation and carding which was articulated by the HIV AIDS Desk of the MCK. To confirm the transparent nature of the vetting process, Soul Brothers youth group confirmed they did not know anyone or used any external influence, as the case of many such undertakings, to succeed. On contrary, they quoted obstacles they had faced at the ward level headship. They further said they would exert proper efforts to ensure their project prospers and if possible becomes model project.

The groups had undergone trainings on project management and administration organized by the MCK and UN-Habit and therefore they have no excuse when they do not qualify for the next phase funding due to project assesment failure. Youth projects especially those on peace should also have strategy that empowers youth economically as they get engaged in production for nation building. This is for a working a nation.

Bagdad Boys Movement

Mid last month, a transformation success was all over the print media on Bagdad, staid militia group stemmed from the early 1990s events, operational in Kisumu and its environs. Coincidentally, during the same time I had been exploring the engagement and transformation process of the same group, which was because of government gazzetment of the illegal militia groups in Kenya. The final report will be out before the end of the month.

Conversely I need to put a few items in perspective. The true founders of Bagdad movement have passed on leaving behind only three from the sixteen. The ballpark age of the founders is above thirty-five.  Initially, the Bagdad Boys movement was equivocal, a youth led and founded, justice-seeking and youth rights pursuing association. The group found its name from the Persian Gulf War, early August 1990 against Iraq. The group was founded on principles of unity against Moi’s dictatorial hardnosed, regime which had in the earlier months of the year, been accused of having hand in the murder of the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Ouko.

The group uncontained dynamics led to disintegration of the group in following years which saw the rise of smaller but more disastrous sub militia gangs with examples of Coptic, Kosovo Boys and recently Darfur Boys in 2007.

The recent article on print media has been miscued on the transformational process since it failed to recognize the vital fragmentation the original Bagdad has gone through in the approximately two decades. Little byline have likewise been given to institutions and personalities  that started working for the transformation of the original Bagdad Boys like the NCCK, CJPC, DIAKONIA Sweeden, one time Nyanza Provincial Commissioner, amongst others. To get a copy of the final report on Bagdad Boys operations and current status, please get in touch. 

Joseph Owuondo

Youth Leadership, Youth Conflict

Kenya is experiencing a cramp-puzzling-dilemma moment. Allow me to elucidate. There is absolute requisition of having new breed of leaders in our country. This is due from the fact that preceding governments and leadership have failed to meet the aspirations and needs of the citizens. The citizens want services not unproductive politics observed. We all agree. Recently though, there has been an examination on the reliability of youth to deliver the far desired noble leadership.

A lot of resources are being injected to youth projects and leadership preparations. Foreign governments especially the US have had a grander finger in this. This is a fact which has raised a number of trepidations. There have been consternations from the government quarters about the interest of the US Ambassador to Kenya and his control on claims that he his financing a Youth Revolt against the present regime.

Whether this is accurate or fabricated, one argument is valid. Who benefits from the US funds meant for the youth projects? There are undercurrents, nippily raging amongst the youth who have started questioning the credibility and sincerity of the already self-fronting youth revolutionary leaders. The youth displeasures are mounting and the self-styled youth leaders ought to know this. Today, this click of youth can be seen around US Ambassador in his public forums and in press conferences articulating issues and giving deliberations on behalf of the Kenyan Youth. The vilest comes when this group of young people call themselves professionals and elites. The carpenter or mechanic is a proficient professional in his or her own right since he or she is taking an active part in nation building. The groupings emerging in Kenya are thus early warnings enough to draw early response.

Finally, it must be acknowledged by Kenyans that this is our country, our territory and we therefore have a responsibility above everyone to protect and respect every part of it. Every Kenyan must understand the concept of sovereignty, the fundumental freedom, indispensable rights and duties given to us by the constitution. We must avoid fighting one another but combine our arsenals to fight internal and external evasions and colonization of our minds. This can only be achieved when our governance and leadership is not based on age, economic influence, tribe, level of education but ability to deliver, organize, pass credulity standards, and work for the people.

Joseph

Kisumu Town East MP’s Unique Peace Initiative

It is seldom to find peace initiatives facilitated especially by members of parliament specifically targeting the youth. Most politicians have always manipulated the youth as hecklers and agents of confrontation during elections. MP of Kisumu Town East, Hon Shakil Shabir has outshined most members of parliaments by devoting and investing support to Kisumu youth across the neighbouring consituencies.




The MP has financed various youth projects targeting the violence hotspot areas like Kondele, Manyatta and Nyalenda. The projects are mainly income generating, environmental conservation and social welfares. The MP has acquired ECOSAN toilets for the youth groups who are engaged in ecological sanitation. Tivoli Youth Trust has been given six toilets, which are to be used health facilities in Nyaleda Slums. Tivoli is a reformed group of youth, who were part of the outlawed BAGDAD Boys. They have economic activities, which they are engaged thus have productively engaged.



Mr. Shabir has also provided computers to youth and women groups in line of information and communication technological advancement. Members of such groups are training for computer literacy. They are connecting to the rest of the world through internet at the same time they have access to peacebuilding and development information, which are the core component of nationalism.



The only Asian MP in the country has guaranteed more peace stabilizing undertakings in the Greater Kisumu Constituencies especilially with the youth and women. The Member of Parliament is always available on the weekends though Mondays and fascinatingly he is the only MP who has managed to stay closest not only to his consitituents but to neighbouring constituents as well.



Some of Tivoli Youth members have benefited from the Partners for Peace Projec of the EU and KONRAD courtesy of CIAG-Kenya.

Devolved Governments, Devolved Conflicts

From tears and blood, a new consitution for the Kenyan people dream is a reality. The long fought for guiding standard is however posing various challenges to both citizens and legislators. First, implementation time specification in relation to particular chapters, though fastening, has a legislative risk. The Kenyan lawmakers have not changed to conform to the new structure. They are unmoved from the concept of state as a corporate entity. This is evident from new political alienations that persist in the current political domain. The citizens through civic education and media edification are conversely close tracking the developments. There is a definate rift, between citizens and legislators. This conflict though silent is causing a still intimidation between the two factions and this will front a violent movement if not addressed accordingly and in time.




Secondly, the devolution concept is considered a liberation ground for majority of citizens. The proposed model endeavors to bring resources and essential services close to the people. The design recognizes the people’s diversities, rights, and interest and most importantly grants the citizens within a county the power to govern themselves.



The environment for practical implementation of chapter eleven of the new document remains a critical concern. The reservations are on aptitude and credentials of the governor hopefuls already lined for election. General elections are several months away, interestingly the country is on campaign mood. Politicians are realigning and position themselves for strategic positions created for by the new constitution. The test is upon the voters who must make informed choices. The voters must ensure that the elected leaders are of the highest integrity and credibility. The governor however must have exceptional leadership and managerial skills. They must be able to mobilize resources externally for their counties, ensure proper management of the billions from the national budget and plan for their counties adequately. From the social audits conducted on utility of devolved funds in Kenya, none of the politicians, again fronting for political leadership has shown fairness and transparency in the management.



Finaly, the conflict between Kisumu Municipal Council and The Matatu Operators was again observed. The operators downed their tools and protested against operatonal stickers 100% fee hyke. The raise blew the operators who questioned the deteroriating condition of the city roads. Their rationale was on depletions that had led to increased cost of maintance from vehicles tears and wears.



Public utilities tendering and procurement processess in this country have been dogged by favouritism, cronism, and lack of preffesionalism. The citizens are aware of this and conflict is brewing. It is high time those in power did everything right, lest the axes of the citizens fall upon them.

Tivoli Youth Group

Kisumu Town East MP’s Unique Peace Initiative




It is seldom to find peace initiatives facilitated especially by members of parliament specifically targeting the youth. Most politicians have always manipulated the youth as hecklers and agents of confrontation during elections. MP of Kisumu Town East, Hon Shakil Shabir has outshined most members of parliaments by devoting and investing support to Kisumu youth across the neighbouring consituencies.



The MP has financed various youth projects targeting the violence hotspot areas like Kondele, Manyatta and Nyalenda. The projects are mainly income generating, environmental conservation and social welfares. The MP has acquired ECOSAN toilets for the youth groups who are engaged in ecological sanitation. Tivoli Youth Trust has been given six toilets, which are to be used health facilities in Nyaleda Slums. Tivoli is a reformed group of youth, who were part of the outlawed BAGDAD Boys. They have economic activities, which they are engaged thus have productively engaged.



Mr. Shabir has also provided computers to youth and women groups in line of information and communication technological advancement. Members of such groups are training for computer literacy. They are connecting to the rest of the world through internet at the same time they have access to peacebuilding and development information, which are the core component of nationalism.



The only Asian MP in the country has guaranteed more peace stabilizing undertakings in the Greater Kisumu Constituencies especilially with the youth and women. The Member of Parliament is always available on the weekends though Mondays and fascinatingly he is the only MP who has managed to stay closest not only to his consitituents but to neighbouring constituents as well.



Some of Tivoli Youth members have benefited from the Partners for Peace Projec of the EU and KONRAD courtesy of CIAG-Kenya.



Joseph Owuondo