Coop Officer meets Kimisho Sacco Society Ltd Members

Friends,
We were privileged today to host Mr. Paul Kibugi, an Officer from the Ministry of Cooperatives at the Villa Rosa Club in Nairobi to help guide our process of forming a Sacco Society.
L-R; Mr. Fred Banja- KCDN Treasurer, Mr. Paul Kibugi from the Ministry of Cooperatives and Odhiambo T Oketch during todays meeting
The meeting was attended by 41 Members and it was refreshing being taken through what it takes to form a Sacco Society. We had a very engaging interaction with the Officer and when he was through with us, we were convinced that we are doing the right thing the right way.
Now, forming a Sacco has never been an easy thing. Many have tried and in most cases, many have failed. In forming Kimisho Sacco Society Ltd, we are advancing our Environmental Management Clarion, Poverty Eradication Drive and Economic Revival for our members. Many people would like to be in a Sacco and yet, they have no such opportunities.
Members following the proceedings
We have made it clear that we are employing a General Manager to manage KSSL and already, 5 persons of repute have accepted to serve in the KSSL Board. As soon as we open the doors, we shall announce the Team that is behind the formation of KSSL and we will then engage in a massive Recruitment of Members.
Our Registration Fee per Member is Kshs 300.00 payable to any of our accounts nearer to you;

1.  Kimisho Community Development Network- Kenya Commercial Bank- Kipande House Branch- Account Number-114 2400 913
2. Kimisho Community Development Network- Cooperative Bank of Kenya- City Hall Annexe Branch- Account Number-1134 4232 4095 00 

Members will then be invited to pay a minimum Monthly Contribution of Kshs 220.00- Kshs 200.00 being your savings while Kshs 20.00 will go towards management.
Group Photo after the meeting- Oto, Ms Judith Ombok- Vice Chair KCDN, Mr. Paul Kibugi, Mr. Fred Banja, Ms Siprose and Phoebe in the frontline
We will be meeting with our Members in Busia tomorrow at Yourner Hotel at 10am
Let us all join in working for a Clean and Productive Kenya as we turn 50 years.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Team Leader and Executive Director,
Kimisho Community Development Network,
Kimisho Sacco Society Ltd,
Tel; +254 724 365 557
Email; kimishodevelopment@gmail.com komarockswatch@yahoo.com
Blog; http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

Oto meets with KCDN Members across Nyanza

Dear Friends of Nyanza,
With the Elections over and both Parliament and Senate hell bent on having it their way, and with the Digital Cabinet almost being sworn into office, many things are happening across Kenya. We have seen the intentions of the Two House Speakers and from their initial behaviour, we are going to be in for a rough time.
In Luo Nyanza, I was keen in looking at why we are where we are 50 years into our Independence.
It is gratifying to note that our Political Leadership under the Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga, the Governors, the Senators, the Members of Parliament, the County Women Representatives and County Ward Representatives have all realized that we must change our attitude and move on.
L-R; Odhiambo T Oketch, Bishop Otieno Wasonga of the Diocese of Maseno West and Mr. Philemon Ouma Odhiambo in Siaya at the Diocese Office on 8th May 2013
Seated L-R; Mr. Ouma Ojenge, Ms Mary Akello Omollo- our Team Leader in Busia, Mr. Philemon Ouma Odhiambo- our Team Leader in Siaya and members
We have fought for change as Luos and every time, we have been short changed. It all started in 1963 when the Great Jaramogi led in the fight for the release of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta from prison. The Jaramogi insisted that Mzee Kenyatta was the light that was going to lead Kenya into Independence and with that, he Toshad Kenyatta for the Premiership of Kenya. Soon, he fell off with Mzee Kenyatta and with that came our 1st loss.
Our 2nd loss was in 1992, when the Great Jaramogi led the FORD Movement into fighting for the return of Multi-Party politics. The Great Jaramogi was on his way to the Presidency when Hon Kenneth Matiba came over and messed the party.
Our 3rd loss was in 2002 when the Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga Toshad Mzee Mwai Kibaki only to fall victim to power politics and intrigues.
Our 4th loss was well documented in 2007 just like our 5th loss has been witnessed by the entire world.
These string of loses made me decide to find out what the problem was, and sadly, we are our own problem. I was invited to some Media Houses where we discussed these issues and I must sincerely appreciate Radio Ramogi, Radio Mayienga and all our vernacular Radios who have really invested in educating us.
I took a Tour across Nyanza starting with Siaya on the 8th May, Bondo on the 9th May, Kisumu on the 10th May, Awasi and Katito on the 11th May, Rodi Kopany and Rongo on the 12th May, Migori and Awendo on the 13th May and ended my visits in Homa Bay on the 14th May. What impressed me during these visits was that we seem to know what ails us. It was only in a few places that the truth was not as clear, but after our discussions, it became very clear.
A Group Photo with the Provost Rev William Abungu after our Bondo meeting.
Economic Power
One thing that many of us agreed on is that we must go back to the roots. In Nyanza, we import all sorts of food items, from onion, tomotoes, Sukuma Wiki, Milk, Egg, Chicken, Maize in all her forms- almost everything. We are spending our hard earned money on these food items which we can otherwise produce by ourselves.
We must all go back to food production as a first step. And our youth must stop idling in Bus Stops reading Newspapers.
Financial Power
In Luo Nyanza, we have been struggling with opening Financial Institutions. This has left us as the only open market to all sorts of Financial Institution who bring nothing in terms of development to us. Instead, many Financial institutions are engaged in massive rip offs in Nyanza. They are managing our money in revolving funds yet they give us nothing in terms of growth. These are well documented.
We must stop enriching these money merchants and plan actively for our selves.
Industrial Power
We have no known Industries in Nyanza. The many that were opened have since closed and the sad case scenario is that of Kenya Breweries Ltd. Did they close their Kisumu Plant because Luos are not heavy drinkers or simply because they did not want to spend their money in Nyanza? Yet, Luos are still the most heavy drinkers anywhere in the world.
Kenya Breweries Ltd knew that a Brewing Plant comes with well paid Technocrats- people who will need decent housing, decent social amenities and heavy spending. This meant having a Team that will freely spend in Kisumu, and they did not want this. Again, the question of closed or non performing Industries in Nyanza is a question of Economic sabotage and not non viability.
Buying Power
Siaya County has a population of close to about 600,000 people. Assuming each person spends Kshs 100.00 per day, that will translate to Kshs 60,000,000.00 per day. And where do we spend this money? In buying imported vegetables, imported eggs, imported milk, imported maize, imported onion, imported tomatoes and whatever we remain with, we bank in the many foreign Banks we have in Nyanza.
Let us be very realistic here; how come we are such philanthropic with people you can never build even a kiosk in their home areas?
Let me give you a quick matrix of our buying power across Luo Nyanza;
1. Siaya County with a Population of 600,000 people with each person spending Kshs 100.00 per day spends Kshs 60m per day on Food Imports. Whatever you remain with you take to their banks where they can NEVER give you a loan.
2. Kisumu County with a Population of 960,000 people with each person spending Kshs 100.00 per day spends Kshs 96m per day on Food Imports. Whatever you remain with you take to their banks where they can NEVER give you a loan.
3. Homa Bay County with a Population of 960,000 people with each person spending Kshs 100.00 per day spends Kshs 96m per day on Food Imports. Whatever you remain with you take to their banks where they can NEVER give you a loan.
4. Migori County with a Population of 850,000 people with each person spending Kshs 100.00 per day spends Kshs 85m per day on Food Imports. Whatever you remain with you take to their banks where they can NEVER give you a loan.
Now, are we really poor? Are we poverty stricken as we are wont to be told? I bet not. It is our Economic Power that is building other Counties in Kenya.
Transport
Have you ever asked yourself why all these Buses that go to Kisumu and Kakamega stop and fuel full tanks in Nakuru to and from Nyanza and Western? Is it that we have no Fuel Stations in Kisumu and Kakamega? No. It is very simple- they do not want to spend their money in Nyanza and Western. It is better for them to fuel in Nakuru as the passengers spend their money on their food. Not the reverse.
Opening a Bank
I have heard on several occasions that Luo 'Professionals' are meeting to discuss how to open a Bank. But the moment you call yourself a Luo 'Professional', you have effectively sidelined a vast majority of Luos. You have become an elitist club.
The irony of the whole thing has been that these Luo 'Professionals' meet at Sagret Hotel to discuss how to open a Luo Bank while being served with their food and drinks, by their waiter and in their premises. And they are talking in English!
Did you know why the Deposits for opening a Bank have been going up? It is because of these Luo 'Professionals' who have been meeting in their establishments as they talk in English about opening a Bank at a time their are being served by their people. The waiter takes back the word and the message is immediately transmitted upwords.
Bado Mapambano
We have sang Bado Mapambano for so long now. But has anyone taken some analysis of the obtaining facts. You wake up in their house that you have rented then send your House Help to their shop to buy their milk, egg and bread for breakfast. You then rush to the stage to board their Bus to town. Immediately you are in town, you rush to their burtchery to eat their meat so that you have enough power to sing Bado Mapambano. The moment you are done, you meet in their joints to discuss your none issues then board their buses to take you back to their house which you have rented.
And you pretend that you want power!
All is not lost on us though. We can work ourselves from this situation and build a formidable economic power house in Luo Nyanza. The Kshs 337m we are spending on Food Imports daily in Luo Nyanza if spent amongst us as a people, will instantly build our economy. If we can circulate this money amongst ourselves, we will have made a statement.
And only then will we be strong enough to seek political kingdom. Telo ok kaw gi dhier. Jakom and his Team have some work to do, and as our Supreme General, he must go back to the Situation Room as we manage the front line.
An Odhiambo T Oketch

KCDN Tours Nyanza and Mombasa

Dear Team Members,
We are starting a Tour of Duty across Siaya, Bondo, Kisumu, Awasi, Migori, Awendo, Homa Bay, Oyugis and Mombasa tomorrow to meet with our Members.
We will be at Maseno West Diocese Siaya tomorrow 8th May as from 10am.
Then Bondo at the ACK Church on 9th May at 10am.
YWCA in Kisumu on 10th May at 10am.
DC's Office Awasi on 11th May at 10am.
Migori on 13th May at 10am.
Awendo on 14th May at 10am.
Homa Bay on 15th May at 10am.
Oyugis on 16th May at 10am, and then
Mombasa on 24th May at 10am.
All our Members and Friends are invited to come dialogue with us.
Peace and blessings,

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Team Leader and Executive Director,
KCDN, KSSL and KICL
Tel; +254 724 365 557
Email; kimishodevelopment@gmail.com
Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com
Group Mailing List; friendsofnyanza@yahoogroups.com
Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

A Great Beginning for a Great Revival

Dear Friends,
On Saturday the 4th May 2013, a Great Team of 35 Leaders drawn from across Nairobi met at Komarock and we had great deliberations about our Great Beginning for a Great Revival.
We ratified what our Team Leaders have been discussing based on the Radio Talk Shows where Migosi Odhiambo T Oketch has been hosted severally in the recent times.
We ratified our Constitution and set up parameters for onward engagements.
We have set the whole process in motion, and today, our Team Leaders will be meeting at 2.30pm to fast track the processes of Registration.
We want to appreciate all the Members who have Registered as we start our County Visits that will take us to Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay and Mombasa in the next 20 days.
Even as we travel, we will keep communicating with all our Team Members, for it is your support and commitment that has energized our resolve.
We must all join hands in going back to the Basics- Massive Food Production.
May the Almighty God bless our efforts as we engage with our People in this Great Beginning for our Great Revival.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Team Leader and Executive Director,
KCDN, KSSL, KICL.
Tel; +254 724 365 557
Email; kimishodevelopment@gmail.com
Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com
Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com
Mailing List; friendsofnyanza@yahoogroups.com

Going back to the Basics

Friends,
I was in Kisumu for a series of meetings on Sunday the 28th April and Monday the 29th April 2013 and I want to report to all our Team Members that the visit was very fruitful.
Following extensive engagements, Ms Florence Obura will lead our Mass Mobilization in Kisumu County and she will be helped by a Team of Volunteers including Ms Mary Anyango and Ms Belinda Awuor. They will get technical support from Mzee Hesbon Okwogo, Eng Peter Orawo, Mzee Peter Owiti and others.
L-R; Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch, Mzee Hesbon Okwogo, Ms Florence Obura, Eng Peter Orawo- at the back, and Mzee Peter Owiti after their meeting at the DC's Board Room in Kisumu yesterday the 29th April 2013
Today in the morning,I had extensive discussions with Mr. Moses Ojany- Chairman Insurance Consumers Association of Kenya and Mr. Jeconia Odhiambo- Branch Manager Gateway Insurance and we are discussing how to move our agenda forward.
I am happy to report to all Team Members that Registration for Membership at Kimisho Community Development Network is on going just as Kimisho Savings Sacco Ltd. We are optimistic that we shall have the Two Certificates with me by Friday 3rd May.
I am also happy to invite all those who will make it to join us for our 1st Group Meeting on Saturday the 4th May at 2.00pm at Villa Rosa Club in Komarock Phase 2. In between, I will be holding meetings with some key interest groups as we plan our scheduled Consultative and Awareness Campaigns across Nyanza on the following dates;

1. 8th May- Mwisho Mwisho at Siaya from 10am.
2. 9th May- ACK Church in Bondo from 10am
3. 10th May- YWCA in Kisumu from 10am
4. 11th May- Awasi
5. 13th May- Migori
6. 14th May- Awendo
7. 15th May- Homa Bay
8. 16th May- Oyugis.

We are inviting our Team Members in Awasi, Migori, Awendo, Homa Bay and Oyugis to give us venues for the meetings.
Lastly, hosting these events are never easy. It needs our collective support and as such, I really want to sincerely thank the following Friends who contributed towards our 1st visit to Kisumu over the Weekend;

1. Mr. Joel Akama- Kshs 1530.00
2. Ms Quinter Odhiambo- Kshs 5,000.00
3. Mr. Eric Omondi- Kshs 1,500.00
4. Mr. Elijah Agevi; Kshs 450.00
5. Mr. Joshua Ongoge Odede; Kshs 650.00

Thank you and be blessed.
We will need more of this support and partnership as we work for The Great Revival; Going back to the Basics.
Peace and blessings,

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Team Leader and Executive Director,
Kimisho Community Development Network- KCDN
Tel; +254 724 365 557
Email; kimishodevelopment@gmail.com
Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com
Group Mailing List; friendsofnyanza@yahoogroups.com
Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

The buck stops with the Directors of Environment

Dear Friends,
Now that the President and his Deputy are set to name their Government, there is a lot of expectations from the public. We are expecting the same kind of public overhaul from our Governors as well.
We will be celebrating our Silver Jubilee on the 1st June 2013 and sadly, our Towns and Cities are clogged with dirt, garbage and waste at every open space you can come across. Our drainage systems are clogged and when it rains like it does now, water flows freely across our roads and fields, leading to massive infrastructural damage even as our people get displaced from their homes.
We have been with these problems for the last 50 years and it is time we make a break with the past. The President is set to break from the past by naming a completely new Team to help him run the business of Government and we are expecting the Governors to also name a complete new set of Directors to help them run the County Governments.
And like our Deputy President William Ruto likes saying, we must not engage in guess works. We must make some things happen. Clean Cities and Towns will never just happen by themselves. Sure and planned interventions must be put in place to enable us move from this culture of guess work. Our various Directors of Environment are engaging in management by guess work and it will never achieve any results.

Clean up Campaign organized at Kongowea by The Clean Africa Campaign, our Partners and the Mombasa City County

The success of any institution rests with the ability of the Head and in our case, the cleanliness or lack of the same in a Town or City is judged by the performance of the Director of Environment. He or she has been the face of the Council in Waste and Garbage Management and as such, they will remain the faces of the County Governments. If they have failed to manage Garbage and Waste in the past, nothing new will be expected from them. And the Governors must listen to their advice very carefully lest we continue with the past culture of anything goes.
When we kow-tow to the whims and timelines in Waste Management as dictated by the reactionary forces of the vested interest groups, we will never win the War on Garbage and Waste in Kenya. The War on Garbage and Waste cannot be won by bottling up knowledge, or by going it alone the way some Directors have behaved.
We must borrow from best practices and many examples abound. Rwanda has won the War on Garbage and Waste by encouraging everybody to be a player. Every 4th Saturday of the Month, everybody, and this includes even the President, join hands in Omuganda Day and this has ensured that every person becomes responsible with how you tend to your neighbourhood.
In Rwanda, the Directors of Environment never boast of the various Degrees they have. They show case their knowledge through action and as soon as you land in Kigali, you immediately realize that we have a Sheriff in Town- one who knows what Waste Management is all about.
They have perfected the art of public participation to an extent that every one feels guilty throwing anything down like we carelessly do.
In Gambia, human urine is in great demand and no one urinates carelessly like we do here in Kenya. Urine is bottled and sold out for conversion.  And someone ensures that this is done. In our case in Kenya, the implementing authority is by law given to the Director of Environment and he or she must ensure compliance and greater public participation.
We at The Clean Africa Campaign- http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com have been in the front line inviting Kenyans to actively participate in working for a Clean Kenya by 1st June 2013 as we celebrate our 50 Years of Independence. Now that we have Governors in charge of our Counties, we know this can be achieved if they overhaul the Teams watering the vested interests from their Counties. It is very simple; just cross check the performance of the various Directors of Environment and seek for answers. Like in Nairobi, can we be told what Kshs 40m being paid to contracted garbage truck owners does every month?
Why have we been unable to collect any waste from our streets and neighbourhoods even as we pay out Kshs 40m every Month for exactly this? Why have we been unable to convert waste in to wealth?
We all know that plastic- a major pollutant across the World, is a raw material for making fencing poles and more. Why are the Directors of Environment not engaging in public awareness campaigns to sensitize the various waste collectors about this?
We all know that if waste is separated at source, her premium increases. Why have the Directors of Environment never insisted on separation of waste at source as a first step to waste management?
We all know the value of paper, food remains, human feaces, urine and the other various waste streams. But as a people, we cannot enforce the laws on waste management. The buck stops with the Directors of Environment and their Teams. 
And in Kenya, these Teams have failed us. Why are they very slow in inviting Corporate Partnerships that can invest in the various Waste Streams? These are issues the Governors must address even as the vested interest groups dig in.
They have now shed their previous images and are busy trying to please the Governors with dead ideas- ideas that have never worked for Kenya in the past.
However, we at The Clean Africa Campaign are pleased with the performance of the Directors of Environment at Kisumu and Eldoret. They have taken a pro-active approach to Waste Management and they have even included public participation to help solve our perenial problem with waste and garbage.
In Kisumu, the Director and the People of Kisumu have formed KICOCEN- and every 3rd Saturday of the Month, they bring together many Teams in a Monthly Clean-up and Awareness Campaign.
Members of the Public joining in a Clean up and Awareness Campaign staged at Kondele in Kisumu in Partnership with the Kisunu City County and KICOCEN
In Eldoret, the Director of Environment and the People have formed Eldoret Green City Initiative and they are also jointly hosting Monthly Clean-up and Awareness Campaigns across Eldoret every 3rd Saturday of the Month.
These are positive interventions that we must uphold and appreciate. Kisumu is rapidly becoming the cleanest City in Kenya even as Nairobi grows deeper in filth. And this is the paradox of our times. We have faith that Machakos is on the right track and with an assertive Governor, the Town is in for major surprises and we are wishing them well.
We still have about 40 Days to Kenya celebrating our 50 years of Independence and we at The Clean Africa Campaign do firmly believe that within this time, we can at least remove the daily eye-sores from our midst in Nairobi. But it will need the direct intervention of the Governor because, the Director of Environment in Nairobi has proved grossly incompetent and unable to address the question of waste in the Capital City of Kenya.
We must invoke Polluter Pay Principle to address such carelessness. Each manufacturer can be made to join in keeping our Cities Clean
We need a Clean City and on this we will never relent. Even the Law is on our side;
Article 42 of our Constitution says this; Every person has the right to a clean and healthy environment...
Article 69 (1) The State shall-----(d) encourage public participation in the management, protection and conservation of the environment.

Then we are given room to seek for Judicial intervention when such rights are flaunted or infringed upon at Article 22 (1) and at Article 70 (1).

This is the Law and we are going to play our Public Oversight role with vigour and dedication as we invite all Kenyans to join with us in this Journey of Hope across Kenya.

Time for guesswork is over. We must roll our sleeves and clean our Towns and Cities.

Peace and blessings as we work for a Clean Kenya, a Clean Africa and a Better World.

Odhiambo T Oketch,

Executive Director,

The Clean Africa Campaign-TCAC.

Tel; +254 724 365 557

mailto:oto@kcdnkenya.org

http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com/

http://www.kcdnkenya.org

Supreme Court Ruling Petition No 5 of 2013

Supreme Court Opinion