KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE WARD REPRESENTATIVES ASSOCIATION OF KENYA INAUGURAL CONVENTION

By ndolo asasa Esq. – Devolved Governance Consultant & Secretary, The National Civil Society Congress (Jukwaa la Katiba) On the 1st Day of August 2013 At Sai-Rock Hotel- Mombasa. The Governor of Mombasa, Chairperson of The Ward Representatives Association of Kenya, Honourable Members of County Assemblies in Kenya, Ladies and Gentlemen; Good morning? Am humbled to be with you today and even more so giving this address at this particular moment of the inaugural convention of the Ward Representatives Association of Kenya. The task on your shoulders as Ward Representatives and Members of the 47 County Assemblies is enormous, starting with the delivery of devolution that Kenyans expect delivered intact and immediately. Devolution is the revolution in the Constitution of Kenya (2010), you are the guardian angels and face of that devolution revolution, you are the custodians of the people’s hope for change for the better and the aspirations and spirit of the CoK 2010. Being the pioneer and frontline foot soldiers of a constitutional revolution in Kenya, you have the singular duty of creating and developing a firm pedestal upon which the devolution and development aspirations of Kenyans will be securely extrapolated for success. And this Association is an important cog for this. Guard it. Nurture it. Nourish it. Secure it. You should be courageous and focused enough to chart your own path without undue prompting except as prodded by the Constitution of Kenya and your coonstituents’ so guided aspirations. Your position and role is so pivotal that it does not need any gainsaying, kindly note that while the CoK 2010 expressly provides for the creation of county governments in Chapter 11 Article 176 (1), the national government is only implied. In my opinion, this thus read with Chapter 2 Article 6 (1 & 2) should bring to an end any imagination of a superior or ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 2 supervisory relationship between the national and county governments. This Association brings to life the unity of purpose of Article 6 (1). It is my hope that this premier convention will reconsider the name of this association to be changed to a more inviting and inclusive one. I have in mind the variously nominated members of the county assemblies who are legitimate and equal members of county governments’ legislative arm but whom seem excluded by the name of this Association. This should not affect the association’s objectives and focus to realize devolution to the fullest. In the same tone, I will re-emphasize that you are pioneers and you should not be brow beaten to walk a certain beaten path in this journey because your journey has not been walked on before, at least not in Kenya. I here urge you not to leave any legislative member of all county assemblies out of this association and do not allow distractions from the past, divisions of imaginations or disruptions of fear to frustrate this noble initiative. You are on the right path. Let me now focus on the work ahead. It is a lot. The good thing is that, you are upto the task. I strongly urge you to resist turning this Association into a welfare group. Your welfare matters can easily be done by creating a national platform for this for your County Assembly Service Boards. Instead keep the focus of this Association to the foremost –your legislative and political presence and mandate alive at the national stage- being the Senate and National Assembly, Executive and Judiciary. The Cabinet, The Speakers, The Governors, The Senators and the National Assembly Members all have national platforms to articulate and secure their space at the national arena. Members of the County Assemblies are not an exception, actually they are an integral manifestation of the national make up and you must thus take your place at the table of national deliberation, development and growth. You will be intimidated. You will be threatened. You will be cajoled and some of you may even be tricked to compromise this platform. Kindly let it not be and condemn any such attempt, and condemn it conclusively. You are going to face a lot of challenges from all sorts of quarters. Small or big. Close or farfetched. Stakeholders or busybodies. Political or spiritual. Men or ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 3 women. The young or old. National or County government . Private or public sector. Ethnic extraction or political party affiliation. What will not change is that, you are the custodians and prime movers of county governments and therefore the devolution revolution. If this revolution suffers any setbacks, you will get the largest of the blame and subsequent condemnation. Once again I urge you to keep eyes on the successful realization of devolution. This Association gives you leverage to lighten this heavy and crucial mandate. But do kindly note that you are not the only actors in devolution, but you are the key actors in implementation and safeguarding of devolution at the actualization level, being at the county level. Kenyans are looking towards you among other actors to overcome the various challenges on the path of devolution currently packaged as teething problems, turf wars or mere politics of power. You should manage these hiccups at this stage as much as you keep focus on the long-term ultimate delivery of devolution in totality. These challenges are as many if not more as the actors in devolution. I summarily propose the following as good enough starting points; 1. The Association should find ways to engage with the national parliament on the principle of … conducting mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation [Chapter 2 Article 6 (2)]. There is no basis to implement this provision at the executive level only. 2. You should develop mechanisms to tap into the collective organization that is being undertaken by the County Assembly Speakers and the Council of Governors to enhance harmony and unity of purpose for the workload ahead 3. Hamonise your county cross cutting administrative and legislative matters for quicker results. In this particular area I have in mind; a) Identify and prioritise a harmonized legislative framework agenda to quickly breathe life into the development page of devolution at the county level. ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 4 b) Create a national platform for County Assembly Service Boards as process of this Association to articulate remuneration and other welfare matters for Members of the County Assembly. c) Develop a common position on the less than optimum performance of the Transition Authority of failing to among others (i) duly prepare and submit a status report of transition to devolution by 30th June 2013 as envisioned by law and (ii) their failure to identify and cost all functions due for devolution and thus frustrating transfer of functions to county governments thereby hindering the much can’t-be- waited-for-devolution! d) Have a critical view and position on the composition and locating of the Transition Authority to reflect both national and county levels of government status of being distinct and inter-dependent actors. 4. Create mechanism of monitoring and harmoniously influencing political, legislative and administrative deliberations and actions for the wellbeing of the county devolved units, especially to compliment Senate and Governor’s Council mandates. This is part of your oversight mandate. 5. Consider to regularize this convention to a bi-annual status event. I believe that am in the presence of empirical evidence of the success of the will of a people committed to an idea whose time has come. I believe you are the link that is going to transform the unease and fear among the civil servants. The tension between the two houses of parliament and the apparent bewilderment amongst constitutional bodies on devolution to the actual unleashing of the greatness of the people of Kenya; united by our diversity, driven by our unequivocal belief in our devolution aspiration and bound by our urge to include and involve each and all of us in all facets of our development. Finally, through you devolution and county governance is going to make Kenya the envy of the world where it will be a preference for all to be considered a weakling in Kenya than the most powerful person anywhere else in the world. God Bless County Assembly Members. God Bless Devolution. God Bless Kenya. God Bless You! ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385

KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE WARD REPRESENTATIVES ASSOCIATION OF KENYA INAUGURAL CONVENTION

By ndolo asasa Esq. – Devolved Governance Consultant & Secretary, The National Civil Society Congress (Jukwaa la Katiba) On the 1st Day of August 2013 At Sai-Rock Hotel- Mombasa. The Governor of Mombasa, Chairperson of The Ward Representatives Association of Kenya, Honourable Members of County Assemblies in Kenya, Ladies and Gentlemen; Good morning? Am humbled to be with you today and even more so giving this address at this particular moment of the inaugural convention of the Ward Representatives Association of Kenya. The task on your shoulders as Ward Representatives and Members of the 47 County Assemblies is enormous, starting with the delivery of devolution that Kenyans expect delivered intact and immediately. Devolution is the revolution in the Constitution of Kenya (2010), you are the guardian angels and face of that devolution revolution, you are the custodians of the people’s hope for change for the better and the aspirations and spirit of the CoK 2010. Being the pioneer and frontline foot soldiers of a constitutional revolution in Kenya, you have the singular duty of creating and developing a firm pedestal upon which the devolution and development aspirations of Kenyans will be securely extrapolated for success. And this Association is an important cog for this. Guard it. Nurture it. Nourish it. Secure it. You should be courageous and focused enough to chart your own path without undue prompting except as prodded by the Constitution of Kenya and your coonstituents’ so guided aspirations. Your position and role is so pivotal that it does not need any gainsaying, kindly note that while the CoK 2010 expressly provides for the creation of county governments in Chapter 11 Article 176 (1), the national government is only implied. In my opinion, this thus read with Chapter 2 Article 6 (1 & 2) should bring to an end any imagination of a superior or ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 2 supervisory relationship between the national and county governments. This Association brings to life the unity of purpose of Article 6 (1). It is my hope that this premier convention will reconsider the name of this association to be changed to a more inviting and inclusive one. I have in mind the variously nominated members of the county assemblies who are legitimate and equal members of county governments’ legislative arm but whom seem excluded by the name of this Association. This should not affect the association’s objectives and focus to realize devolution to the fullest. In the same tone, I will re-emphasize that you are pioneers and you should not be brow beaten to walk a certain beaten path in this journey because your journey has not been walked on before, at least not in Kenya. I here urge you not to leave any legislative member of all county assemblies out of this association and do not allow distractions from the past, divisions of imaginations or disruptions of fear to frustrate this noble initiative. You are on the right path. Let me now focus on the work ahead. It is a lot. The good thing is that, you are upto the task. I strongly urge you to resist turning this Association into a welfare group. Your welfare matters can easily be done by creating a national platform for this for your County Assembly Service Boards. Instead keep the focus of this Association to the foremost –your legislative and political presence and mandate alive at the national stage- being the Senate and National Assembly, Executive and Judiciary. The Cabinet, The Speakers, The Governors, The Senators and the National Assembly Members all have national platforms to articulate and secure their space at the national arena. Members of the County Assemblies are not an exception, actually they are an integral manifestation of the national make up and you must thus take your place at the table of national deliberation, development and growth. You will be intimidated. You will be threatened. You will be cajoled and some of you may even be tricked to compromise this platform. Kindly let it not be and condemn any such attempt, and condemn it conclusively. You are going to face a lot of challenges from all sorts of quarters. Small or big. Close or farfetched. Stakeholders or busybodies. Political or spiritual. Men or ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 3 women. The young or old. National or County government . Private or public sector. Ethnic extraction or political party affiliation. What will not change is that, you are the custodians and prime movers of county governments and therefore the devolution revolution. If this revolution suffers any setbacks, you will get the largest of the blame and subsequent condemnation. Once again I urge you to keep eyes on the successful realization of devolution. This Association gives you leverage to lighten this heavy and crucial mandate. But do kindly note that you are not the only actors in devolution, but you are the key actors in implementation and safeguarding of devolution at the actualization level, being at the county level. Kenyans are looking towards you among other actors to overcome the various challenges on the path of devolution currently packaged as teething problems, turf wars or mere politics of power. You should manage these hiccups at this stage as much as you keep focus on the long-term ultimate delivery of devolution in totality. These challenges are as many if not more as the actors in devolution. I summarily propose the following as good enough starting points; 1. The Association should find ways to engage with the national parliament on the principle of … conducting mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation [Chapter 2 Article 6 (2)]. There is no basis to implement this provision at the executive level only. 2. You should develop mechanisms to tap into the collective organization that is being undertaken by the County Assembly Speakers and the Council of Governors to enhance harmony and unity of purpose for the workload ahead 3. Hamonise your county cross cutting administrative and legislative matters for quicker results. In this particular area I have in mind; a) Identify and prioritise a harmonized legislative framework agenda to quickly breathe life into the development page of devolution at the county level. ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 4 b) Create a national platform for County Assembly Service Boards as process of this Association to articulate remuneration and other welfare matters for Members of the County Assembly. c) Develop a common position on the less than optimum performance of the Transition Authority of failing to among others (i) duly prepare and submit a status report of transition to devolution by 30th June 2013 as envisioned by law and (ii) their failure to identify and cost all functions due for devolution and thus frustrating transfer of functions to county governments thereby hindering the much can’t-be- waited-for-devolution! d) Have a critical view and position on the composition and locating of the Transition Authority to reflect both national and county levels of government status of being distinct and inter-dependent actors. 4. Create mechanism of monitoring and harmoniously influencing political, legislative and administrative deliberations and actions for the wellbeing of the county devolved units, especially to compliment Senate and Governor’s Council mandates. This is part of your oversight mandate. 5. Consider to regularize this convention to a bi-annual status event. I believe that am in the presence of empirical evidence of the success of the will of a people committed to an idea whose time has come. I believe you are the link that is going to transform the unease and fear among the civil servants. The tension between the two houses of parliament and the apparent bewilderment amongst constitutional bodies on devolution to the actual unleashing of the greatness of the people of Kenya; united by our diversity, driven by our unequivocal belief in our devolution aspiration and bound by our urge to include and involve each and all of us in all facets of our development. Finally, through you devolution and county governance is going to make Kenya the envy of the world where it will be a preference for all to be considered a weakling in Kenya than the most powerful person anywhere else in the world. God Bless County Assembly Members. God Bless Devolution. God Bless Kenya. God Bless You! ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385

KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE WARD REPRESENTATIVES ASSOCIATION OF KENYA INAUGURAL CONVENTION

By ndolo asasa Esq. – Devolved Governance Consultant & Secretary, The National Civil Society Congress (Jukwaa la Katiba) On the 1st Day of August 2013 At Sai-Rock Hotel- Mombasa. The Governor of Mombasa, Chairperson of The Ward Representatives Association of Kenya, Honourable Members of County Assemblies in Kenya, Ladies and Gentlemen; Good morning? Am humbled to be with you today and even more so giving this address at this particular moment of the inaugural convention of the Ward Representatives Association of Kenya. The task on your shoulders as Ward Representatives and Members of the 47 County Assemblies is enormous, starting with the delivery of devolution that Kenyans expect delivered intact and immediately. Devolution is the revolution in the Constitution of Kenya (2010), you are the guardian angels and face of that devolution revolution, you are the custodians of the people’s hope for change for the better and the aspirations and spirit of the CoK 2010. Being the pioneer and frontline foot soldiers of a constitutional revolution in Kenya, you have the singular duty of creating and developing a firm pedestal upon which the devolution and development aspirations of Kenyans will be securely extrapolated for success. And this Association is an important cog for this. Guard it. Nurture it. Nourish it. Secure it. You should be courageous and focused enough to chart your own path without undue prompting except as prodded by the Constitution of Kenya and your coonstituents’ so guided aspirations. Your position and role is so pivotal that it does not need any gainsaying, kindly note that while the CoK 2010 expressly provides for the creation of county governments in Chapter 11 Article 176 (1), the national government is only implied. In my opinion, this thus read with Chapter 2 Article 6 (1 & 2) should bring to an end any imagination of a superior or ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 2 supervisory relationship between the national and county governments. This Association brings to life the unity of purpose of Article 6 (1). It is my hope that this premier convention will reconsider the name of this association to be changed to a more inviting and inclusive one. I have in mind the variously nominated members of the county assemblies who are legitimate and equal members of county governments’ legislative arm but whom seem excluded by the name of this Association. This should not affect the association’s objectives and focus to realize devolution to the fullest. In the same tone, I will re-emphasize that you are pioneers and you should not be brow beaten to walk a certain beaten path in this journey because your journey has not been walked on before, at least not in Kenya. I here urge you not to leave any legislative member of all county assemblies out of this association and do not allow distractions from the past, divisions of imaginations or disruptions of fear to frustrate this noble initiative. You are on the right path. Let me now focus on the work ahead. It is a lot. The good thing is that, you are upto the task. I strongly urge you to resist turning this Association into a welfare group. Your welfare matters can easily be done by creating a national platform for this for your County Assembly Service Boards. Instead keep the focus of this Association to the foremost –your legislative and political presence and mandate alive at the national stage- being the Senate and National Assembly, Executive and Judiciary. The Cabinet, The Speakers, The Governors, The Senators and the National Assembly Members all have national platforms to articulate and secure their space at the national arena. Members of the County Assemblies are not an exception, actually they are an integral manifestation of the national make up and you must thus take your place at the table of national deliberation, development and growth. You will be intimidated. You will be threatened. You will be cajoled and some of you may even be tricked to compromise this platform. Kindly let it not be and condemn any such attempt, and condemn it conclusively. You are going to face a lot of challenges from all sorts of quarters. Small or big. Close or farfetched. Stakeholders or busybodies. Political or spiritual. Men or ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 3 women. The young or old. National or County government . Private or public sector. Ethnic extraction or political party affiliation. What will not change is that, you are the custodians and prime movers of county governments and therefore the devolution revolution. If this revolution suffers any setbacks, you will get the largest of the blame and subsequent condemnation. Once again I urge you to keep eyes on the successful realization of devolution. This Association gives you leverage to lighten this heavy and crucial mandate. But do kindly note that you are not the only actors in devolution, but you are the key actors in implementation and safeguarding of devolution at the actualization level, being at the county level. Kenyans are looking towards you among other actors to overcome the various challenges on the path of devolution currently packaged as teething problems, turf wars or mere politics of power. You should manage these hiccups at this stage as much as you keep focus on the long-term ultimate delivery of devolution in totality. These challenges are as many if not more as the actors in devolution. I summarily propose the following as good enough starting points; 1. The Association should find ways to engage with the national parliament on the principle of … conducting mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation [Chapter 2 Article 6 (2)]. There is no basis to implement this provision at the executive level only. 2. You should develop mechanisms to tap into the collective organization that is being undertaken by the County Assembly Speakers and the Council of Governors to enhance harmony and unity of purpose for the workload ahead 3. Hamonise your county cross cutting administrative and legislative matters for quicker results. In this particular area I have in mind; a) Identify and prioritise a harmonized legislative framework agenda to quickly breathe life into the development page of devolution at the county level. ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 4 b) Create a national platform for County Assembly Service Boards as process of this Association to articulate remuneration and other welfare matters for Members of the County Assembly. c) Develop a common position on the less than optimum performance of the Transition Authority of failing to among others (i) duly prepare and submit a status report of transition to devolution by 30th June 2013 as envisioned by law and (ii) their failure to identify and cost all functions due for devolution and thus frustrating transfer of functions to county governments thereby hindering the much can’t-be- waited-for-devolution! d) Have a critical view and position on the composition and locating of the Transition Authority to reflect both national and county levels of government status of being distinct and inter-dependent actors. 4. Create mechanism of monitoring and harmoniously influencing political, legislative and administrative deliberations and actions for the wellbeing of the county devolved units, especially to compliment Senate and Governor’s Council mandates. This is part of your oversight mandate. 5. Consider to regularize this convention to a bi-annual status event. I believe that am in the presence of empirical evidence of the success of the will of a people committed to an idea whose time has come. I believe you are the link that is going to transform the unease and fear among the civil servants. The tension between the two houses of parliament and the apparent bewilderment amongst constitutional bodies on devolution to the actual unleashing of the greatness of the people of Kenya; united by our diversity, driven by our unequivocal belief in our devolution aspiration and bound by our urge to include and involve each and all of us in all facets of our development. Finally, through you devolution and county governance is going to make Kenya the envy of the world where it will be a preference for all to be considered a weakling in Kenya than the most powerful person anywhere else in the world. God Bless County Assembly Members. God Bless Devolution. God Bless Kenya. God Bless You! ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385

KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE WARD REPRESENTATIVES ASSOCIATION OF KENYA INAUGURAL CONVENTION By ndolo asasa Esq. – Devolved Governance Consultant & Secretary, The National Civil Society Congress (Jukwaa la Katiba) On the 1st Day of August 2013 At Sai-Rock Hotel- Mombasa. The Governor of Mombasa, Chairperson of The Ward Representatives Association of Kenya, Honourable Members of County Assemblies in Kenya, Ladies and Gentlemen; Good morning? Am humbled to be with you today and even more so giving this address at this particular moment of the inaugural convention of the Ward Representatives Association of Kenya. The task on your shoulders as Ward Representatives and Members of the 47 County Assemblies is enormous, starting with the delivery of devolution that Kenyans expect delivered intact and immediately. Devolution is the revolution in the Constitution of Kenya (2010), you are the guardian angels and face of that devolution revolution, you are the custodians of the people’s hope for change for the better and the aspirations and spirit of the CoK 2010. Being the pioneer and frontline foot soldiers of a constitutional revolution in Kenya, you have the singular duty of creating and developing a firm pedestal upon which the devolution and development aspirations of Kenyans will be securely extrapolated for success. And this Association is an important cog for this. Guard it. Nurture it. Nourish it. Secure it. You should be courageous and focused enough to chart your own path without undue prompting except as prodded by the Constitution of Kenya and your coonstituents’ so guided aspirations. Your position and role is so pivotal that it does not need any gainsaying, kindly note that while the CoK 2010 expressly provides for the creation of county governments in Chapter 11 Article 176 (1), the national government is only implied. In my opinion, this thus read with Chapter 2 Article 6 (1 & 2) should bring to an end any imagination of a superior or ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 2 supervisory relationship between the national and county governments. This Association brings to life the unity of purpose of Article 6 (1). It is my hope that this premier convention will reconsider the name of this association to be changed to a more inviting and inclusive one. I have in mind the variously nominated members of the county assemblies who are legitimate and equal members of county governments’ legislative arm but whom seem excluded by the name of this Association. This should not affect the association’s objectives and focus to realize devolution to the fullest. In the same tone, I will re-emphasize that you are pioneers and you should not be brow beaten to walk a certain beaten path in this journey because your journey has not been walked on before, at least not in Kenya. I here urge you not to leave any legislative member of all county assemblies out of this association and do not allow distractions from the past, divisions of imaginations or disruptions of fear to frustrate this noble initiative. You are on the right path. Let me now focus on the work ahead. It is a lot. The good thing is that, you are upto the task. I strongly urge you to resist turning this Association into a welfare group. Your welfare matters can easily be done by creating a national platform for this for your County Assembly Service Boards. Instead keep the focus of this Association to the foremost –your legislative and political presence and mandate alive at the national stage- being the Senate and National Assembly, Executive and Judiciary. The Cabinet, The Speakers, The Governors, The Senators and the National Assembly Members all have national platforms to articulate and secure their space at the national arena. Members of the County Assemblies are not an exception, actually they are an integral manifestation of the national make up and you must thus take your place at the table of national deliberation, development and growth. You will be intimidated. You will be threatened. You will be cajoled and some of you may even be tricked to compromise this platform. Kindly let it not be and condemn any such attempt, and condemn it conclusively. You are going to face a lot of challenges from all sorts of quarters. Small or big. Close or farfetched. Stakeholders or busybodies. Political or spiritual. Men or ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 3 women. The young or old. National or County government . Private or public sector. Ethnic extraction or political party affiliation. What will not change is that, you are the custodians and prime movers of county governments and therefore the devolution revolution. If this revolution suffers any setbacks, you will get the largest of the blame and subsequent condemnation. Once again I urge you to keep eyes on the successful realization of devolution. This Association gives you leverage to lighten this heavy and crucial mandate. But do kindly note that you are not the only actors in devolution, but you are the key actors in implementation and safeguarding of devolution at the actualization level, being at the county level. Kenyans are looking towards you among other actors to overcome the various challenges on the path of devolution currently packaged as teething problems, turf wars or mere politics of power. You should manage these hiccups at this stage as much as you keep focus on the long-term ultimate delivery of devolution in totality. These challenges are as many if not more as the actors in devolution. I summarily propose the following as good enough starting points; 1. The Association should find ways to engage with the national parliament on the principle of … conducting mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation [Chapter 2 Article 6 (2)]. There is no basis to implement this provision at the executive level only. 2. You should develop mechanisms to tap into the collective organization that is being undertaken by the County Assembly Speakers and the Council of Governors to enhance harmony and unity of purpose for the workload ahead 3. Hamonise your county cross cutting administrative and legislative matters for quicker results. In this particular area I have in mind; a) Identify and prioritise a harmonized legislative framework agenda to quickly breathe life into the development page of devolution at the county level. ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385 4 b) Create a national platform for County Assembly Service Boards as process of this Association to articulate remuneration and other welfare matters for Members of the County Assembly. c) Develop a common position on the less than optimum performance of the Transition Authority of failing to among others (i) duly prepare and submit a status report of transition to devolution by 30th June 2013 as envisioned by law and (ii) their failure to identify and cost all functions due for devolution and thus frustrating transfer of functions to county governments thereby hindering the much can’t-be- waited-for-devolution! d) Have a critical view and position on the composition and locating of the Transition Authority to reflect both national and county levels of government status of being distinct and inter-dependent actors. 4. Create mechanism of monitoring and harmoniously influencing political, legislative and administrative deliberations and actions for the wellbeing of the county devolved units, especially to compliment Senate and Governor’s Council mandates. This is part of your oversight mandate. 5. Consider to regularize this convention to a bi-annual status event. I believe that am in the presence of empirical evidence of the success of the will of a people committed to an idea whose time has come. I believe you are the link that is going to transform the unease and fear among the civil servants. The tension between the two houses of parliament and the apparent bewilderment amongst constitutional bodies on devolution to the actual unleashing of the greatness of the people of Kenya; united by our diversity, driven by our unequivocal belief in our devolution aspiration and bound by our urge to include and involve each and all of us in all facets of our development. Finally, through you devolution and county governance is going to make Kenya the envy of the world where it will be a preference for all to be considered a weakling in Kenya than the most powerful person anywhere else in the world. God Bless County Assembly Members. God Bless Devolution. God Bless Kenya. God Bless You! ndoloasasa@gmail.com 0727-358385

How Raila Lost the 2013 Presidential Election!

With the Supreme Court having dispensed with the judicial reasons (or lack of) that define Raila Amolo Odinga's loss of the presidential election, allow me to give a considered view on the administrative and political reasons (or lack of) that define the same Raila loss; 1. A dysfunctional party - ODM! The party built no systems and institutions to campaign for a presidential win. The iconic fellows in ODM were mostly hang on on the Raila name and extension ODM party resonance to get a through pass into political leadership positions. They mostly did not add value as they did nothing to add value except keep themselves within Raila's sight! The so called grassroot structures were moribund and had no work, nay no instruction to do any work in the buildup to the presidential elections except cheer Raila if he happens around! The national secretariat of ODM was dilapidated in terms of staff, motivation and focus (Kindly note that most kept going on merely due to passion!). They had no organic relationship with the presidential secretariat and their point of harmony was mutual suspicion. Sample this - they did not develop a presidential coordination campaign team, almost all their agents were deployed without training and ToRs and this was mostly done on election eve! Of biggest losses, the defections, no counter strategy was developed or implemented. It was simply haemorrhage which was wrongly viewed from within as good riddance! 2. An opinionated presidential secretariat. First of all in interacting with them, one did not feel was interacting with a team but several people at the same place! But a running streak in almost all of them was the mien of managers of a win and not of seekers of a win! There seemed to be an unspoken philosophy that if the old political thoughts are let or encouraged to flourish, then Raila will win. Little, half-hearted or no efforts were made to areas that were not considered friendly even they were high stakes areas. Either the secretariat had no authority or failed to execute their authority in so far as organising the presidential campaign was concerned. This was evident with the sporadic nature of Raila's campaign, the absence of flow of authority and communication mechanism within the campaign e.g between the national campaign secretariat and the national ODM secretariat, aspirants, candidates, lobbies or with its campaign structures in the counties and constituencies (am assuming that these mechanisms were there!) Suaveness was overrated as a consideration to add value to the campaign at the expense of traditional supporter who were considered an image burden! I am struggling to identify their deliverables- as they failed for instance obviously failed to acquire a copy of the final voters' register from IEBC and a strategic venue for their final rally in Nairobi in time (these venue issue specifically made them look like cry babies!) 3. A uncharacteristically fluid candidate- Raila Amolo Odinga (aka RAO)! i). RAO failed to reach out to and consolidate his relationship with his traditional constituency- the so called radicals! He went overboard to show and court obvious the other side that included prescribed groups with doubtful public standing, iconic business persons with doubtful political persuasions and feel-good international pride that has doubtful election persuassion. It is like he assumed that the so called radicals had no option but to support him, and I think they did but they did not campaign for him at all or in critical numbers and intensity enough to make him stand out as not only an alternative but desireable alternative in the prevailing circumstances. This coupled with his almost unexplained dalliance with bad-boy promoters of the status quo erased any difference between him and his key opponents. ii). RAO identity crisis. He suddenly displayed indecisiveness hitherto never imagined of him! Take the following examples- he was the titular head of CORD alliance but went to his strongholds and strongly advised his people to vote 6-piece suit to the chagrin of his audience and unspoken anger by his alliance partners! There was a deafening call to him to ensure that the ODM party nominations were free and fair. He refused to speak to it and only feebly referred to it when trusted allies started to flee and this was a few days to the nominations by which time people had already doubted his commitment to this. All of us can remember with consternation when during the presidential debate he crumbled when cornered to give his position on land and specifically the Kenyatta land! We saw an apologetic RAO pleading Uhuru's innocence- all pretense of bravado gone! His thus lost the intellectual claim to be a courageous political champion in the face of many! iii). A new RAO! Ruto bolted from ODM, RAO took ages to decide whether to prop up Sally Kosgei, Henry Kosgei or Franklin Bett. The good old RAO made correct decisions instantly! Balala followed out, and Raila did not know wether to prop Omar Hassan, Joho or Kingi? This s trend becomes almost hilarious when Mudavadi is seduced away. In this intance RAO literally falls over himself for Musalia and even imposes a curfew on his troops not to antagonise a gone Musalia! Of course the prize is take by Ngilu's exit. Nguli really twist RAO on her finger by still getting RAO to listen to her and even attend high level strategic sessions public and private even after openly flirting and identifying with the opponents. RAO is simply lost on what to do! Indecisiveness exemplified! All in all the RAO presidential campaign acquired the image of disorganisation, despite the very concerted display of winning. It is this disorganisation, in my view that weakened the RAO perfomance at the ballot and destroyed its otherwise good case at the Judiciary. This was a very expensive demonstration of HOW NOT TO CAMPAIGN if you intend to win! I rest my case. PS: I will share my views on the judicial decision after I see the report informing of their ruling.

Profiles of Western Kenya Heroes and their Sacrifices - By Wafula Buke

Kenyans’ December rises like the sun and crescendos as it picks up momentum towards a climax on the famous 25th day. On this day, all genuflect to the historical mark of Jesus. The word ‘sacrifice’ for the human family crystallizes his short but virtuous life. He paid the ultimate prize after a protracted torturous journey to that hill. Christmas is a period when we remind ourselves of those who have demonstrated this quality in leadership. At Radio Mambo studio, Omar Bakuli, my interviewee, asked me to give profiles of historical personalities from among the Luhya who have sacrificed for society. I considered the occasion opportune. First were the numerous casualties of the resistance to colonial invasion at Lumboka and Chetambe fort in 1898. Luhyas believe the colonialists used the rapid fire gun for the first time in Africa to maul down the brave opposition by Luhyas. The bukusu have a self-praise expression inspired by this event; “Efwe lirango lie Njofu”, we are the thigh of an elephant. Elijah Masinde of the Dini ya Musambwa declared that God was against colonialism and despite there being dismal white settlements in his backyard, went on record as the first known Kenyan to call for the departure of the white man from Africa. He launched the armed struggle in 1947 that preceded the Mau Mau insurgence. It should be noted that the General Service Unit (GSU) was set up by the colonial government on the prompting of the Elijah Masinde-led rebellion in February 1948. In the autobiography of Field Marshal John Okello, Revolution in Zanzibar, the leader of the 1964 Zanzibar revolution, Okello discloses that his deputy in command was one Absolom Ingen; “A Luhya from Kakamega.” The insurrection that lasted 90 hours overthrew the feudal Arab government and installed a socialist government. Incidentally, the two boys lead the revolution despite being aliens from neighboring countries; Uganda and Kenya a reality that made them invite Abeid Karume to be President. John Okello became the Minister for Defense. Scared of the pair, Nyerere, Kenyatta and Obote declared them personae non grata. In fact Okello wrote his book from Kamiti prison. Ingen’s story ends with the coup but Okello was years later found killed in Uganda during Amin’s regime. Masinde Muliro stood up for the assassinated JM kariuki in 1975. “There is no collective responsibility in murder.” He declared. The parliamentary inquiry report which he supported had held the Kenyatta government responsible for the murder of the JM kariuki. Muliro, a lifelong reformist is believed to have been killed in 1992. From his student days in at Alliance High School, Wafula Siakama was principled. On prize giving day, Charles Njonjo, the then Attorney General and Chief Guest made remarks to the effect that Siakama should have focused more on English instead of Kiswahili where he had shined. Siakama, who was walking towards Njonjo, turned back declining the prize creating tension. That moment defined his destiny. At the University of Nairobi, Siakama joined democratic forces delivering fiery speeches with colleagues Odindo Opiata and Rumba Kinuthia among others. He also regularly published anti-establishment articles in Hilary Ng’weno’s Nairobi Times newspaper in late 1970s. Despite being top of his law class, he was denied a scholarship for masters while his politically unmarked colleagues received sponsorship. Frustrated and unemployable, the charismatic youth who scored an upper second class honors in law died hopping from place to place chancing for free accommodation and upkeep. Oyangi Mbaja was born in 1930s in Vihiga. He was a self taught Deputy Editor of an independence paper alongside Hon Dennis Akumu in the 1950s. When Tom Mboya’s wing of Kanu de-radicalized the Kanu manifesto to accommodate the neo-colonial agenda in 1960, he organized demonstrations in Nairobi burning copies of the new manifesto. He remained steadfast participating in organizing opposition to the Kenyatta regime. In 1971, he accused of plotting a coup and jailed for ten years alongside other patriots. After completing his term, he joined Mwakenya, an underground liberation movement and later jailed for another five years in 1986. He died a poor man unable to even buy his drugs. When I visited him in Kenyatta hospital, he had stayed for two days without prescribed drugs that only cost Ksh 350. Ernest Bwire Namadoa was born in 1960 in Budalang’i. He was a photo journalist by occupation. Namadoa believed in the view that “liberation anywhere leads to liberation everywhere” (Che Guevara). He decided to join Museveni in the Uganda war of liberation. After the war, he returned to Kenya to do the groundwork for another liberation war in Kenya. He was jailed for ten years allegedly for spying for Uganda in 1987. After his prison term, he opted to join the war against Mobutu of former Zaire. They liberated the current DRC Congo. Bwire returned to his motherland in late 1990s limping due to a bullet wound. Jobless and unemployable, he found himself ostracized. He lived alone in a single room in Kabete Kiambu where he was found dead in the year 2000. Lastly, the Luhya have Martin Shikuku whose consistency is well known. Detained by Kenyatta in 1977, he is on record for asking God to take him as soon as the new constitution was passed. As we reflect on whom to vote for in March 2013, let us be guided by what Jesus and other heroes from our communities demonstrated; “SACRIFICE”.

TAKING STOCK OF POLITICAL TRANSITIONS IN KENYA By ndolo asasa Esq.

Being of Kenya Kenya came into being as a modern state in 1920 or there about upon officially being colonized by the United Kingdom and thus by default joining the then massive and powerful British Empire. This marked a fundamental change on how the people of Kenya were to relate henceforth. This change occurred in the political arena, economic relationships and cultural development across the population that left the previous nation-states, read tribes, in a form and matter that would never be the same again. This change was variously resisted and or welcome all the way from the Coast, North Eastern through Eastern, Central, Nairobi, Nyanza, Rift Valley and the Western Provinces. The populace in return has not disappointed by appropriately responding to the changes as much as they have come. It is the art of moving thus by way of response from one status to another, that I here refer to as transition. The Kenyan Republic has been most shaped by the changes in governance. Some of the changes have tilted transitions while some have simply excited the existence of a situation. In my view, the following have stood out in the governance transitions in Kenya towards better or otherwise governance. a. Defining Personalities: Mr. Harry Thuku occupies that enviable position of personifying the resistance to colonialism. As much as he is alleged later to have turned collaborator of the colonialist, his action triggered what he could not singularly stop – the fight for independence. This mantle, of being the flagship of resistance to colonialism, is effectively represented by Mr. Dedan Kimathi who moved the resistance to an armed struggle level best narrated as Mau Mau resistance. This heroic narrative of making the Kenya nation is brought to an abrupt end by the entry of oneMr.Johnstone Kamau aka Jomo Kenyatta who was successfully grafted- either by himself or the British agents, onto the pinnacle of the independence struggle. This transition is not celebrated yet it is the biggest and most significant political transition from the traditional nation-states that make Kenya to the Republic of Kenya. In the traditional nation-states, the heroic warriors got the credit for their endeavours including recognition and leadership positions resultant of their efforts. But, by the Jomo Kenyatta paradigm shift, that the Kenya Republic would by default adopt henceforth, leadership and recognition is availed to personalities who are otherwise positioned by factors and circumstances not necessarily their efforts in people and community service. Mr. Pio Gama Pinto has the misfortune of not only being the first high profile political assassin, but also marks that’s transition in the now national psyche of cover up of political murders and assassinations. His assassination has since then been followed with the assassinations or mysterious deaths of Mr. Tom Mboya, Mr. Kungu Karumba, Mr. Bruce Mackenzie, Mr. J.M.Kariuki, Mr. Kiliti Mwendwa, Dr. Robert Ouko, Bishop Alexander Muge, Mr. Masinde Muliro, Mr. George Kapten and now Prof. George Saitoti. Struggles for transition to democracy are ably personified by Jaramogi Adonijah Abednego Ajuma Oginga Odinga, after a life dedicated to expanding democratic political space in the Republic of Kenya. The nemesis of this struggle, armed struggle for more political space after independence is securely represented by Snr. Private Hezekiah Rabala Ochuka. Madam Charity Kaloki Ngilu cuts a forlorn figure of women engagement in political development in the country. Her record and presence on the political map is yet to be challenged by any woman despite the same record being a poor show against the menfolk. It is very telling that both Messrs Daniel Toroitich arap Kimoi and Emilio Mwai Kibaki, former and current Presidents, are more of diligent conveyors of the status quo machinations than pivotal personalities of transition. b. The development of institutions for democratic governance: i).The struggle by natives to regain their sovereign power and dignity from the British Colonialists gained momentum of consolidation through nation-state outfits as was formed by the Coastals, Kikuyus, Kambas , Luos, Luhyas etc. These ethnic based institutions were soon almost simultaneously replaced by regional political parties and sector based trade unions that were more articulate at bargaining with the colonialist at the colonialists’ terms of; what interest do you represent, what acceptable structures do you have and what quick gains can you accept to remain relevant? In this forte struggle, the political parties represented by KANU and KADU trounced the trade unions in the lead upto independence. This was done by either absorbing the prominent trade unionist to significant political party positions or just making the trade unions agenda political party agenda and crowding the trade unions out of public visibility. Upon independence, the trade unions remained under, and the provincial administration was crafted as a government machinery that obliterated the political parties and confined them to irrelevance throughout the first two decades of independence. Upon re-introduction of multiparty politics in the early 1990s, mechanisms for multiparty democracy were democracy were not introduced too. This resulted in political parties now becoming vehicles to mobilisise tribal support and individualized political idolatry. This status has legally greatly been changed by the new order that now expects nationalism, people participation and democracy at party level first, before engaging at the national political leadership arena. The political parties will, after the next general election then have a chance to define their relevance as institutions of democracy over the life of the next parliament henceforth, as they already have a strong legal foundation. ii). Starting the 1980’s Parliament and Judiciary were conscripted as prominent democracy players specifically to constrict the democratic space through legislation, application of law and interpretation of law. With a concerted attack on all the governance institutions in place so far, namely; KANU- read political parties, Parliament and provincial administration and a jeering at the Judiciary, institutions of governance systematically crumbled and the governance of individuals and personalities was promoted as the new governance kid on the block. The new constitution, The Constitution of Kenya (2010) has leased new life into institutions of democracy in the county. With the appointment of a brand new Chief Justice, a totally new judicial system and a confidence instilling vetting of all its officers, the Judiciary is the most enthusiastic institution of governance in the country undergoing recreation. The Provincial Administration is frantically fighting for its survival by the proxy of a retiring Executive, while Parliament will face its most stern test when it is reconstituted after the next general election- the first one in the new constitutional order. c. The journey in structures for democracy 1.Security of the people has with the new constitutional order become the main focus and purpose of police. As before independence, the main purpose for police existence was until upto the end of the first republic, to protect the government machinery and cajole the citizenry into submission. The police recruitment, training, standing orders and deployment was first and foremost crafted to make the police feel informidable and the citizenry most subdued. The police thus have signified official terror, intimidation and oppression. This image is set to change when and if the envisioned constitutional police reforms come to be. These may not be manifested by the first general election after the promulgation of the constitution. 2.Another important structure in the democratic governance journey is the electoral machinery commonly known in Kenya as The Electoral Commission. Until upto the re-introduction of multi-party politics in the early 1990’s, it is the government functionaries that were charged with organising and conducting elections in the country. This arrangement did not give the process much independence leave alone credibility. It become worse in the 1970’s and 80’s when the whole process become a sole responsibility of the much discredited provincial administration and even further constrained if not blurred by being a one-party activity! The Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) came into being in the early 1990’s as a distinct structure to manage and conduct electoral matters in the country, but its creation was shrouded with an intimidating presence of KANU, the ruling party. The leadership was suspect, its financing not independently secured from the government and its structures dilapidated in terms of personnel, equipment and credibility. They are most remembered for mismanaging all the elections under their watch almost without exception and the 2007/8 debacle hangs on their identity like the hallmark at the incompetence of discharging their mandate. The Government of Grand Coalition process provided for a transition mechanism where temporarily the mandate of managing elections and electoral areas was separated and given to interim institutions to facilitate a rebirth of the Electoral Commission under the then envisioned new constitution. During this interim process, wananchi demonstrated unprecedented belief and confidence in the electioneering process if the manner in which the bye-elections and the referendum were conducted and received. But the same enthusiasm was not extended to the electoral areas management unit which was tasked with redrawing the electoral boundaries and creation of new constituencies. This challenge has now been inherited by the substantive Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that has regained the management mandate of both the electoral process and electoral areas. In coming up with IEBC, mechanisms were put in place to secure the process from the ECK pitfalls. These included insulating the process from pure political party manipulation in its constitution, securing the widest possible participation of all political players, subjecting the recruitment process to public and parliamentary scrutiny and securing its financial independence from the executive arm of the government. The effect of this massive process investment is in the public domain to be judged, at least just yet. 3. The civil society. Until upto the late 1970s, the civil society was largely absent on the Kenyan public governance scene. But nascent intellectual and legal debates in the university corridors enriched with continued unvoiced dissatisfaction created need to have alternative avenues to observe and generate alternative views to public governance matters in the counties. In the early 1980’s, the government employed a heavy hand to crush the now increasingly bold non-state actors commenting and attempting to influence public thought. They were viewed as carrion flies that were meddling min matters that first they did not have mandate to engage in and also that they supposedly know nothing about. This high handedness of the government made the civil society intervention in governance matters to go underground and out of the country but most important assume a political angle that resonated with the citizenry either as political nuisance or true political liberation struggle. By mid 1990s, the civil society had now had now come out more openly using legal spaces to stake legitimacy on engagement in public governance matters but were largely organized thematically but still mainly mobilized along individual and friendship relationships – maybe as a recoil effect of the protracted government crackdown on them. Mid 1990s witnessed unprecedented public participation in civil society governance engagement. The participation was so huge that not even political parties or government efforts could rival them. But the election of a non-KANU party and President to power in 2002 shook the civil society in a manner both not anticipated and ever witnessed before. Maybe it was an unexpected victory too soon. The transitions that occurred within this sector saw some hitherto biggest civil society organizations crumble, civil society prominent personalities join the government or politics in various capacities and various exclusive civil society mandates now taken over by the government. Needless to say that a lot of donor support disappeared with the hugely changed scenario. The effect of this was that, the until then taken for granted public watchdog role, registered a gap. The civil societies’ capacity for the first time become questionable in the eyes of the public, and the confidence of the civil society players and their authoritativeness in engaging the status quo plummeted to record lows. This became most evident in how in they participated in the 2007 General Elections in which they largely held no opinion! Concluding Opinion. The most challenge of securing sustainable democratic governance transition rests with the political parties and the civil society. The political parties must have to make participation in political matters attractive, fashionable, orderly, relevant and acceptable in decency. Those that will not, will either find themselves on the wrong side of the low or inconsequential on the political scene. While the civil society must engineer itself to be a source of alternative approaches to governance matters. The mandate that they have hugely played in the last decade or so, has with the new constitutional order irreversibly been dismantled. They have largely been playing lobby and advocacy position for or against government postulations! This role will now henceforth be more articulately and effectively played by political parties both at the national and county levels of government. =============================================================================