Akiba Uhaki Foundation has given us the first tranche in support of the development of our Strategic Plan. We are now on the right track, and after this is done, we shall have given KCDN proper direction in pursuit of our Initiatives.
We at KCDN are very thankful to Akiba Uhaki Foundation for they have shown that they have faith in us and they believe in what we are doing. This Friendship is destined for greater things for the benefit of all Kenyans in our pursuit of Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation.
We firmly believe in social justice for all Kenyans and our Partnership with Akiba Uhaki will empower us to reach far and wide. All our programmes remain on course; 8th & 9th May 2010 we will host the PEV Photo Exhibition and Dialogue in Dandora and on 12th June 2010, we will host the 3rd KCDN Peace Run/Walk in Komarock. We are inviting your support and participation.
As we thank Akiba for this support, we wish all Kenyans a Happy Easter Holiday.
Odhiambo T Oketch
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
Tel; 0724 365 557
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Mr Kepta Ombati of Akiba Uhaki Foundation receives a Certificate of Appreciation from Odhiambo T Oketch of KCDN following their support for the 2nd KCDN Peace Ran/Walk last year. With them are [L-R] Ms Phyllis Wanjiku of KCDN, Mr. Felix Kyalo and Ms Christine Njurai of Akiba Uhaki Foundation.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
KCDN Inviting all Friends
On 8th and 9th May 2010, the KCDN Peace Caravan 2010 will move to Dandora at the PCEA Church in Dandora Area 1. We intend to mobilize the entire Dandora for this event.
Then on 12th June 2010, we will host the 3rd KCDN Peace Run/Walk in Komarock. This process has always brought in many people to advance the need for Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation.
Thereafter, we are moving to other parts of Kenya with this campaign.
These are challenging events and we have learnt from our previous experiences with the same. We need financial support for mobilization, preparations and hosting. And we know you are willing to support finance our Peace Initiative. It is only this support that you give us that will empower all our Initiatives.
If you believe that Kenya truly needs to move in this direction, you may give us your support. Our budget for the immediate events in the next 5 months will be a challenge but we have faith in your collective support.
Peace Building is an expensive affair, but in our view, it is far more better than one more Kenyan being killed because of none action. We hence invite you to join us in this process; Your support will help drive this process forward. Your support will give us the kind of strength we need for this kind of work. And as we have proved many times before, we have what it takes to make it happen. Peace and blessings to us all, Odhiambo T Oketch, CEO KCDN Nairobi, Tel; 0724 365 557, Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com Blog group; friendsofkcdn@yahoogroups.com |
Inviting Peace Agents and willing Partners
Just before the 2007 elections, Peace Agents were on the sprawl with several appeals for peace and a peaceful election. Chagua Amani Zuia Noma was launched in September 2007 and the Religious leaders came up with a Peace Charter that binded Presidential candidates to Peace and peaceful conducts.
Then we went for elections and the aftermath was the kind of bloodshed and destruction the kind that we have never seen in Kenya before. As many as 1333 Kenyans were killed in the process, and property of unknown value got destroyed. A many as 350 000 Kenyans were rendered homeless and or displaced as well.
Two years on, the process of National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation is still wanting. We are still showing tendencies that reflect that we learned nothing as a result of the Post Election Violence.
What went wrong? Did the Peace Agents get it so wrong that we could not rally the country to maintain peace immediately the results were announced? Did we have to kill each other so such mercilessly, destroy our property with complete abandon and create a massive wave of Internally Displaced Persons as such?
These are some of the challenges that we must start facing as a country and as Peace Builders. And as we do this, pertinent questions are arising; as Peace Agents, should we disclose our political orientation and leanings?
I want to invite debate on this. And I will start by declaring that Peace Builders ought to be as clear as possible about themselves. We must not lie to the public about our preferences. In the Developed World, people are so clear about their political affiliations, and this does not affect their day to day engagements, nor does it create conlict.
In the USA, we have known Republicans and known Democrats, and this does not create conflict. The same applies to the UK. Political affiliation does not create conflict. Then, how come that I would want to pretend with my political affiliation in Kenya on account of being a Peace Builder?
This is the lie we lived prior to the Elections of 2007 and if we move on like this, we shall achieve very little peace or no peace at all. We will have more conflicts after each and every elections, and the 2012 one can be very messy. Already, we have reports of people arming themselves in advance. We also have cases of arms being stolen from government armoury. Remember the Narok incidence?
At KCDN, we have been encouraging our Friends, Willing Partners and those whom we work with to be as open as possible about their political preferences. This has worked very harmoniously for us and every time we have a team event, people come out and we work together as a team.
We are seeing people becoming more tolerant in as far as political differences are concerned and we like it. It is making us to encourage as many people as possible to start being very clear about their political leanings in a process that makes this usual. We then start looking at each other as brothers and sisters sharing the same resources but having different political preferences when elections are called. And this must not lead to conflict.
But when Peace Builders become pretenders, we are building our house on quick sand. I do not see it a problem being a KANU sympathizer. Just like I do not have a problem with any ODM, PNU, ODM-K or KADDU member. Being in a given political party is their democratic choice and that must not lead to conflict, or it must not make me pretend otherwise. And it needs many of us to shout this out.
As a country, we are at cross roads, and I bet we must be bold enough to face reality in order to save Kenya.
We are continuing with the KCDN Peace Caravan 2010 and on 8th and 9th May 2010, we will be in Dandora with the PEV Photo Exhibition and Dialogue. We want to invite all Peace Agents to come forward and help move this process forward by being proactive players and supporters.
Time for pretence is gone. Time for workshops is gone. It is time for action and at KCDN, we believe in action. We believe in reaching the man in the street and the woman at the next corner. Let us join hands and move this process forward and convert as many Peace Agents across Kenya as possible. Let us not discuss issues of Peace, National Healing and Reconcilaition in Boardrooms and Workshops. Let us engage people out there.
It makes very little sense to preach to the converted. People who attend workshops are people well known to each other and they have little to learn from each other. The people who need more information are out there and we must reach out to them and engage them. If we spend the kind of money donors spend in Hotels and Workshops directly on the people, we will reach those amongst us who missed super the previous night and had no hope and plans for breakfast. They will have tea with mandazis and they will listen to us and our message.
The money we spend on an individual in an Hotel or in a Workshop can buy tea to 200 people in the street.
We are looking forward to your support and partnership as we address this emotive issue of Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation during the KCDN Peace Caravan 2010. Let us join hand s as one.
If you are touched and you want to support the KCDN Peace Caravan 2010, please reach out to me.
Peace and blessings,
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
Tel; 0724 365 557, 0735 529 126,
http://kcdnkomarock swatch.blogspot. com
http://nairobieastb a.blogspot. com
mailto:friendsofkcd n@yahoogroups. com
Then we went for elections and the aftermath was the kind of bloodshed and destruction the kind that we have never seen in Kenya before. As many as 1333 Kenyans were killed in the process, and property of unknown value got destroyed. A many as 350 000 Kenyans were rendered homeless and or displaced as well.
Two years on, the process of National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation is still wanting. We are still showing tendencies that reflect that we learned nothing as a result of the Post Election Violence.
What went wrong? Did the Peace Agents get it so wrong that we could not rally the country to maintain peace immediately the results were announced? Did we have to kill each other so such mercilessly, destroy our property with complete abandon and create a massive wave of Internally Displaced Persons as such?
These are some of the challenges that we must start facing as a country and as Peace Builders. And as we do this, pertinent questions are arising; as Peace Agents, should we disclose our political orientation and leanings?
I want to invite debate on this. And I will start by declaring that Peace Builders ought to be as clear as possible about themselves. We must not lie to the public about our preferences. In the Developed World, people are so clear about their political affiliations, and this does not affect their day to day engagements, nor does it create conlict.
In the USA, we have known Republicans and known Democrats, and this does not create conflict. The same applies to the UK. Political affiliation does not create conflict. Then, how come that I would want to pretend with my political affiliation in Kenya on account of being a Peace Builder?
This is the lie we lived prior to the Elections of 2007 and if we move on like this, we shall achieve very little peace or no peace at all. We will have more conflicts after each and every elections, and the 2012 one can be very messy. Already, we have reports of people arming themselves in advance. We also have cases of arms being stolen from government armoury. Remember the Narok incidence?
At KCDN, we have been encouraging our Friends, Willing Partners and those whom we work with to be as open as possible about their political preferences. This has worked very harmoniously for us and every time we have a team event, people come out and we work together as a team.
We are seeing people becoming more tolerant in as far as political differences are concerned and we like it. It is making us to encourage as many people as possible to start being very clear about their political leanings in a process that makes this usual. We then start looking at each other as brothers and sisters sharing the same resources but having different political preferences when elections are called. And this must not lead to conflict.
But when Peace Builders become pretenders, we are building our house on quick sand. I do not see it a problem being a KANU sympathizer. Just like I do not have a problem with any ODM, PNU, ODM-K or KADDU member. Being in a given political party is their democratic choice and that must not lead to conflict, or it must not make me pretend otherwise. And it needs many of us to shout this out.
As a country, we are at cross roads, and I bet we must be bold enough to face reality in order to save Kenya.
We are continuing with the KCDN Peace Caravan 2010 and on 8th and 9th May 2010, we will be in Dandora with the PEV Photo Exhibition and Dialogue. We want to invite all Peace Agents to come forward and help move this process forward by being proactive players and supporters.
Time for pretence is gone. Time for workshops is gone. It is time for action and at KCDN, we believe in action. We believe in reaching the man in the street and the woman at the next corner. Let us join hands and move this process forward and convert as many Peace Agents across Kenya as possible. Let us not discuss issues of Peace, National Healing and Reconcilaition in Boardrooms and Workshops. Let us engage people out there.
It makes very little sense to preach to the converted. People who attend workshops are people well known to each other and they have little to learn from each other. The people who need more information are out there and we must reach out to them and engage them. If we spend the kind of money donors spend in Hotels and Workshops directly on the people, we will reach those amongst us who missed super the previous night and had no hope and plans for breakfast. They will have tea with mandazis and they will listen to us and our message.
The money we spend on an individual in an Hotel or in a Workshop can buy tea to 200 people in the street.
We are looking forward to your support and partnership as we address this emotive issue of Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation during the KCDN Peace Caravan 2010. Let us join hand s as one.
If you are touched and you want to support the KCDN Peace Caravan 2010, please reach out to me.
Peace and blessings,
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
Tel; 0724 365 557, 0735 529 126,
http://kcdnkomarock swatch.blogspot. com
http://nairobieastb a.blogspot. com
mailto:friendsofkcd n@yahoogroups. com
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday 26th March 2010
Friends,
I have been on the ground for the last several days pressing and pushing. It has been a tough task but a task that I enjoy all the same.
On 2nd, 3rd 4th and 5th, Akiba Uhaki Foundation is helping us develop our Strategic Plan.
On 8th and 9th May, we will be in Dandora with the PEV Photo Exhibition and Dialogue.
On 12th June 2010, we will host the 3rd Edition of the KCDN Peace Run/Walk.
And, we have a lot of initiatives that are people geared in our process of Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation Initiatives.
I believe that all these will be fine and achievable.
Peace and blessings,
I have been on the ground for the last several days pressing and pushing. It has been a tough task but a task that I enjoy all the same.
On 2nd, 3rd 4th and 5th, Akiba Uhaki Foundation is helping us develop our Strategic Plan.
On 8th and 9th May, we will be in Dandora with the PEV Photo Exhibition and Dialogue.
On 12th June 2010, we will host the 3rd Edition of the KCDN Peace Run/Walk.
And, we have a lot of initiatives that are people geared in our process of Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation Initiatives.
I believe that all these will be fine and achievable.
Peace and blessings,
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Need for Civic Education in the streets of Kenya
They are taking partisan positions with regards to constitution making, yet, for the last 20 years, kenyans have been fed on hope of a never coming constitutional dispensation. It has been used as a campaign gimmick with Kenyans as pawns.
I bet time has come for us to bite the bullet; face these guys with facts and occasion change to happen in Kenya. As it were, agents of status quo are re grouping and remoulding themselves as our change agents. They are in the fore front shouting about the kind of constitution we need. And as they do this and shout the most, they are convinced about what their real intentions are. In their nakedness, they feel that we are not seeing through.
This is why all Kenyans must be in the front line in seeking change and a new constitution. We must all be in the front line preaching Peace, National Healing, Reconciliation and Environmental Conservation. We must take this campaign to the streets and neighbourhoods of Kenya.
We must engage each other. We cannot do this in Hotels and Boardrooms. That is for the affluent. The people are in the Estates and that is where we must go.
If we do not do this, our circus of politicians will take their confusion to the people, give us Kshs 50.00 each and we will still vote for them. They will fill in the Civic Education gap by continuing to divide us.
It is time we moved From Taking to Tasking.
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi.
Tel; 0724 365 557
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Its Monday at KCDN
I bet we all had a nice week.
Besides all the issues that I have to face, foremost in my agenda is the upcoming Strategic Plan Development that our Friends at Akiba are helping us with. As they extend this hand of Friendship, we at KCDN have a lot of work to do. We must prove beyond any reasonable doubt that we deserve this hand of Friendship.
Our Initiatives must remain on course. We must engage and move the masses. And as we have stood out, we must not be part of workshops, rather, we must be part of the action.
It has taken me 2 years of had work, with your support, to make this happen. I will do all that it takes to ensure that the confidence that we have built in the last 2 years with Friends of KCDN moves to the next level.
It is difficult, just like it has been in the last 2 years, but having come this far, I cannot afford to slip. Slipping will take us 2 years back and developing a new outfit might be difficult.
Our Forte will remain Child Support under the KCDN Child Support Initiative. But Peace Building and Environmental Conservation are ingredients that handily intertwine with our Core Function. These are the issues that will get clearer once the Strategic Plan is done.
It is with this in mind that I start this fine Monday morning.
Peace and goodwill be to all of us.
Odhiambo T Oketch,
KCDN Nairobi.
Tel; 0724 365 557.
Monday, March 15, 2010
We are very strong
Dear Friends,
Following the forced break-in in to our offices last weekend of 6th and 7th March 2010 as we were hosting the Post Election Violence Photo Exhibition and discussions, we have received pledges of support to keep us on track.
We have been given temporary shelter at Victory Centre Church and all our programmes remain on course.
In the meantime, we have received a Grant from Akiba Uhaki Foundation to help us develop a 5 year Strategic Plan. We are very thankful for this support, coming at a time when we have just had a forced entry into our offices.
We have also received pledges of financial support to help us come back to our foot from members of Friends of KCDN. We know many more people of goodwill will come forward and give us support at this our hour of need. We thank Mary Njeri [Covaw], Dr Matunda, Janet Mafunga, Danny Olela, George Nyongesa and many more friends who have stood with us in solidarity.
We are starting all over again from the basics; chairs, tables, computers, stationery.. ....
The task ahead of us is real gigantic and we need all support and prayers. Temptations will come along the way and for us at KCDN, we must remain focused on our goal as we deal with the side shows. Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation is of much more paramount impaotance to us than the side shows meant to derail us. We are determined to come out of it much more stronger; with your support, partnership and prayers.
And above all; God is with us.
We have given the Police and the Provincial Administration until Wednesday 17th March 2010 by which time if they shall have made no arrests and recovery of our items, we will resort to the next course of action.
As our Friends, we pray you stand in solidarity with us as we address this act of blatant impunity and aggression on KCDN.
In May we will be in Dandora for a Peace Exhibition before converging at the Calvary Convent Church Grounds in Komarock on 12th June for the 3rd Annual KCDN Peace Run/Walk. On this day, we will host a free Breast Clinic for the women in partnership with Getrude's Children's Hospital.
Peace and blessings be upon all of us.
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
Tel; 0724 365 557, 0735 529 126,
Following the forced break-in in to our offices last weekend of 6th and 7th March 2010 as we were hosting the Post Election Violence Photo Exhibition and discussions, we have received pledges of support to keep us on track.
We have been given temporary shelter at Victory Centre Church and all our programmes remain on course.
In the meantime, we have received a Grant from Akiba Uhaki Foundation to help us develop a 5 year Strategic Plan. We are very thankful for this support, coming at a time when we have just had a forced entry into our offices.
We have also received pledges of financial support to help us come back to our foot from members of Friends of KCDN. We know many more people of goodwill will come forward and give us support at this our hour of need. We thank Mary Njeri [Covaw], Dr Matunda, Janet Mafunga, Danny Olela, George Nyongesa and many more friends who have stood with us in solidarity.
We are starting all over again from the basics; chairs, tables, computers, stationery.. ....
The task ahead of us is real gigantic and we need all support and prayers. Temptations will come along the way and for us at KCDN, we must remain focused on our goal as we deal with the side shows. Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation is of much more paramount impaotance to us than the side shows meant to derail us. We are determined to come out of it much more stronger; with your support, partnership and prayers.
And above all; God is with us.
We have given the Police and the Provincial Administration until Wednesday 17th March 2010 by which time if they shall have made no arrests and recovery of our items, we will resort to the next course of action.
As our Friends, we pray you stand in solidarity with us as we address this act of blatant impunity and aggression on KCDN.
In May we will be in Dandora for a Peace Exhibition before converging at the Calvary Convent Church Grounds in Komarock on 12th June for the 3rd Annual KCDN Peace Run/Walk. On this day, we will host a free Breast Clinic for the women in partnership with Getrude's Children's Hospital.
Peace and blessings be upon all of us.
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
Tel; 0724 365 557, 0735 529 126,
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Picha Mtaani in Komarock 6th and 7th March 2010
The event was well attended with close to 7,000 people besides school going children coming to view and take part in the debate on Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation.
We will be moving to Dandora in May before converging at Calvery Convent Church Grounds in Komarock again on 12th June 2010 for the 3rd KCDN Annual Peace Run/Walk. This year, we will partner with Gertrude Children's Hospital for a free Breast Clinic for women.
We believe that by engaging directly with the people, we are helping in creating awareness of the ravages of war and conflict as we discuss with the people the way forward.
We invite all Friends of goodwill to join us in this campaign.
Peace and blessings to you all.
Odhiambo T Oketch,
Monday, March 1, 2010
Picha Mtaani in Komarock
Dear Friends,
We will be launching the KCDN Peace Caravan 2010 on 3rd March 2010 at our offices in Komarock in a ceremony that will bring together local leaders and peace agents from Embakasi and Njiru Districts.
The launch will be at 10.00am.
Then on 6th and 7th March 2010, in partnership with Picha Mtaani, we will host a Post Election Violence Photo exhibition at Komarock Primary School. In the evenings of those 2 days, we will have a Big Screen Show of the Post Election Violence. This will begin at 7.00pm. And you are all invited.
The function will be attended by local leaders, Peace Agents, the District Peace Committee, and the Area DC will be in attendance. They will all plant Peace Trees in the evening prior to the show.
Picha Mtaani are the works of an award winning photojournalist Mr. Boniface Mwangi. He witnessed the Post Election Violence and captured the sad moments in our History on Camera for posterity. This is a powerful statement that should bring us back to reality and make us take stock of ourselves [www.pichamtaani.org]
We are cordially inviting you to come and join us as we reflect on our own time of madness.
Peace and blessings,
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
Tel; 0724 365 557, 0735 529 126,
http://kcdnkomarock swatch.blogspot. com
http://nairobieastb a.blogspot. com
mailto:friendsofkcd n@yahoogroups. com
...Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation. . ...
Board; Mr. Alan Kitavi [Chair], Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch [CEO], Ms Amondi D A, Mr. Onyango B C, Ms Kanyua F, Mr. Danny Olela [USA]. Strategic Advisors; Matunda N Dr [Canada], Ochwangi D O Mr. [USA], Feldman J Ms [USA], McKenzie E Ms [USA], Mafunga J N B Ms [Switzerland]
We will be launching the KCDN Peace Caravan 2010 on 3rd March 2010 at our offices in Komarock in a ceremony that will bring together local leaders and peace agents from Embakasi and Njiru Districts.
The launch will be at 10.00am.
Then on 6th and 7th March 2010, in partnership with Picha Mtaani, we will host a Post Election Violence Photo exhibition at Komarock Primary School. In the evenings of those 2 days, we will have a Big Screen Show of the Post Election Violence. This will begin at 7.00pm. And you are all invited.
The function will be attended by local leaders, Peace Agents, the District Peace Committee, and the Area DC will be in attendance. They will all plant Peace Trees in the evening prior to the show.
Picha Mtaani are the works of an award winning photojournalist Mr. Boniface Mwangi. He witnessed the Post Election Violence and captured the sad moments in our History on Camera for posterity. This is a powerful statement that should bring us back to reality and make us take stock of ourselves [www.pichamtaani.org]
We are cordially inviting you to come and join us as we reflect on our own time of madness.
Pupils from Infill Academy joining KCDN for a clean-up exercise in Komarock on 6th February 2010Peace and blessings,
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
Tel; 0724 365 557, 0735 529 126,
http://kcdnkomarock swatch.blogspot. com
http://nairobieastb a.blogspot. com
mailto:friendsofkcd n@yahoogroups. com
...Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation. . ...
Board; Mr. Alan Kitavi [Chair], Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch [CEO], Ms Amondi D A, Mr. Onyango B C, Ms Kanyua F, Mr. Danny Olela [USA]. Strategic Advisors; Matunda N Dr [Canada], Ochwangi D O Mr. [USA], Feldman J Ms [USA], McKenzie E Ms [USA], Mafunga J N B Ms [Switzerland]
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