Message from Mr. Chitnis- NGS HCK

The attention of the nation is now firmly riveted on the new draft constitution of our country. But we can not get away complaining, as we have to bear this formality of the launch of Nairobi East Business Association.

It is not for the sake of mere formality that we have assembled here. A journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step. Equally it must be remembered that not every launch is associated with pomp and fanfare….many large corporate have grown from very humble beginnings! So I wish NEBA a bright and successful future and God’s choicest blessings.

I have always believed that the key for social development lies in social transformation first. It is sheer coincidence that I interacted with Oketch and we shared similar ideological thoughts. We shared ideas on how to engage youths in community projects for economic empowerment. The country has a vibrant youth population that is waiting for opportunities and rearing to go. The opportunities for social development have to be created at grass roots by giving the youth a platform. That platform can be created through public private partnership dialogue.

I am happy to learn that Komarock Community Development Network has already embarked on environmental conservation and improvements such as canal cleaning. It has also taken up the challenge for a Model Satellite Estate in Africa in pursuit of Safer Cities Initiative where the environmental and security needs of the residents are factored in. These initiatives will make Kenyans proud, more so because Nairobi is home to Habitat and United Nations Environment Program – UNEP.

There are many innovative projects Komarock Community Development Network and Nairobi East Business Association can undertake. I am aware that some are in the pipeline already, some are being undertaken but let me elaborate for those from the audience who are not introduced to the concepts of the projects.

· The issue of environmental conservation by the youth is the most laudable proposition. Let us have clean environment, green environment and healthy environment and recapture the title: “The green city under the sun”. Today the City Council of Nairobi is lacking capacity for cleaning the sidewalks / footpaths and levelling them. There are also open spaces and river banks that need regular cleaning and constant improvements. Building partnership with CCN for environmental upkeep is the first step towards social transformation.

· One can only turn to beautification once space around the neighbour-hood is clean, neat and trim. There will be a positive change of attitude in the residents, in a cheerful and healthy atmosphere.

· City Council of Nairobi has long resigned from the task of garbage collection and disposal. But garbage dump sites are the proven source of power generation. Only yesterday it was highlighted in the press of its immense potential. This project is capital intensive and highly technical but the community youth have an opportunity in recycling glass bottles, plastic wares, metal articles etc. Even manure can be harvested from bio degradable waste such as vegetable off cuts and left over food.

· One of the greatest challenges to safer city is insecurity. Like City Council of Nairobi, the police force has failed to curb this menace. Community policing is the only answer to reduce crime and improve security. Community policing is not the preserve of corporate. The social responsibility to provide security lies with every individual, every family. The socio-economic transformation takes place with a safer and secure environment.

· Today, the youth lack the opportunity to acquire skills necessary for gainful employment. There is an urgent need for vocational training. With the current size of the population of the city of Nairobi, we must open more technical training institutes to enable youth in improving technical skills.

· The technical skills, such as plumbing, electrical, carpentry, welding, painting etc. help a person to set up small scale businesses which complement industries and promote entrepreneurship.

· In social transformation, advocacy plays a critical role. The advocacy has many advantages of promoting family and moral values, religious education, the effects of HIV-aids on the families and even the benefits of water harvesting.

· And finally, I seek your support for the Child Alive campaign. This is a Unicef program to help an African child undertaken jointly with religious organisations. Funds are raised by sending out messages from your mobile phones, and they are used to sensitise the general population on the importance of post natal care, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, immunisation etc.

All the above examples show that a small initiative can match the strides of large corporate in terms of vision and mission. It is possible to bring about a change by people’s initiative.

We want the community to embrace positive civilisation values. The civilisation can not exist without the residents and the civilisation can not thrive and flourish without moral and family values. These are two faces of the same coin. So we must promote and enhance civic responsibility, education and action leading to a better Nairobi East community

While I wish to congratulate Odhiambo Oketch and his team for the launch of Nairobi East Business Association, I can assure the support of Hindu Council of Kenya which is an umbrella body of over 150 institutions and 5 branches in Kenya. As a representative body of 60,000 Hindus in Kenya, it has participated in the inter-religious, social and political fora in the country.

HCK is a key stakeholder of the faith based organisations in Kenya and a strong voice of the Hindu population. HCK through its member institutions has over 100 years of legacy in diverse sectors of the Kenyan society – a legacy of bringing communities together for national cohesion and to alleviate poverty. This we have achieved through our traditional and religious value systems.

We can assure the residents of Nairobi East of our support for this noble cause when we see in this initiative desire, commitment and drive.

And let us remember that it is not in the hands GO/NGOs to transform but in the hands of every one of you. You will need each other’s support to facilitate in our journey.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Rashmin Chitnis
National General Secretary
Hindu Council of Kenya.