My reflections; Letter from Arusha

Dear Friends,
In the last few days, I have been at Arusha and on my way from Nairobi, it was exciting as soon as we crossed the border.

Open session

My first reflections were on the vast tracks of land, how good this could be for the Land Grabbers. They have grabbed all public utility in Kenya, schools, churches, play fields, homes, cemeteries and all till they have no more land to grab. How I wished they could cross our borders....just cross the border and start salivating.....
One thing struck me though; President Kibaki and the Hon PM Raila Amolo Odinga have put great efforts at road construction in Kenya, and now, we have many tracks in motorable condition. This is good for rapid economic development for Kenya and East Africa as a whole.
Many things run on good roads; farmers need this to reach the markets; pupils and teachers need this to go to school; commuters rely on this for their economy; government services reach far and wide on good roads; and basically, with good roads, you are on the first lane. And I was reflecting on 7 years before...how no roads we had in Kenya. Good works.

Open session

I then reflected on our education system, how Free Primary Education was introduced and there with it came the many sweet challenges; you all remember Mzee Maruge [RIP] trotting to class to enjoy the fruits of the new found knowledge? How courtesy of this he went into the Guinness Book of Records and even visited New York! I think it was a timely affair.
In between we went to elections and we had our own fair levels of challenges, but the kind of challenges that strengthened our democracy. We are strong now and into the future we are all looking.
When I look at this past and juxtapose this with the question of Youth and Development, I get the thrills. The democratic space has actually given all of us the cutting edge that we need. It allows all persons above 18 to take part and shape our destiny. This is a challenge we must all take.
The youth, and those that are youthful at heart must rise to the occasion and save humanity from man made failures that we have grappled with in Africa. As the world was going industrial, we went corrupt.

Odhiambo T Oketch with the two facilitatiors Miriam and Jens

As the world was going nuclear, we went corrupt.
As the world was celebrating the virtues of good leadership, our leaders were celebrating the virtues of corruption. And yet, we vote them into positions of leadership every 5 years or so often. I was reflecting on this as I met very energized youth from across 10 countries.
What can the youth and the youthful at heart do to liberate Africa from this group that has preached impunity, corruption, environmental degradation and tribalism on us?
Must we continue as we have in the last 50 years of Africa's Independence?
The time has come; the time is now; let us all call each other into action and restore the pride of Africa.
Let us all role our sleeves and join in environmental conservation all across East Africa every 3rd Saturday of the month. Let us all take personal charge withing our various localities.
Let us all join hands and shame the Lords of Graft in our midst's. Let us not glorify the corrupt and sing songs of praises in their favour. Let us make it our personal commitmment to join in the fight against corruption all across East Africa.
We have one missing link in the Fight against Corruption in Kenya; the State Law Office, the seat of power of the Attorney General of Kenya. Whereas the People have joined in the Fight against Corruption, the Legislature has caught fire, the Judiciary is waking up, the AG is still just smiling at us. He is seeing no corruption, hearing and feeling no corruption. He must wake us from that deep slumber...the people are watching him very keenly.
Lastly, in my reflections, let us all join hands in that humble knowledge that in His Providence, all is assured. He is the Almighty, the All Knowing and the All Powerful. He can never let us down when we ask of His mercies on bended knees. Let Him give us the power to seize the moment and do justice to our land.
Peace and goodwill to all mankind.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
PO Box 47890-00100,
Nairobi Kenya.
Tel; 0724 365 557, 0724 365 557
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Odhiambo T Oketch is the current Chairman to the City Council of Nairobi Stakeholders Evaluation Team on Performance Contracting and Rapid Results Management. He was also the Co-Chair and Coordinator of The Great Nairobi Walk against Corruption that was held in Nairobi on the 22nd October 2010.