12th December 2010
Reflections on Jamhuri Day and its relevance to the young people/youth contribution on the new constitution and constitutionalism; a Presentation by Odhiambo T Oketch at Lukenya Getaway during the Symposium on The Kenya Youth Human Rights Camp 2010
Friends,
Today it is exactly 46 years since Kenya became a Republic with Mzee Jomo Kenyatta ascending to the Presidency. We had become Independent on 1st June 1963 in a ceremony that saw Mzee Kenyatta becoming the 1st Prime Minister of Kenya.
As we make reflections on that day and on the subsequent 46 years, we have lessons that we have leant along the way. We also have another Prime Minister with us, this being the Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga being the 2nd Prime Minister of Kenya. Like in 1964, this post is being abolished again.
The Independence struggle- 1960s
However, looking at 1964 and that period, what was the role of young people in making Kenya. We know for a fact that we had many young people who actively participated in the struggle for independence. We had the technocrats who led and participated in the Independence negotiations, and then we had the many unsung heroes who took up arms and shed blood and lost their lives for Kenya. They will forever remain nameless and the unsung heroes of our struggle.
Odhiambo T Oketch addressing the CampersBesides Mzee Kenyatta we had Jaramogi Odinga Odinga who was fairly young. We had James Gichuru, Tom Mboya, Martin Shikuku, Daniel Arap Moi, Ramogi Achieng Oneko, Dr Njoroge Mungai, Mbiyu Koinange, Paul Ngei, Kungu Karumba, Pio Gama Pinto, Chiedo More Gem Kodhek, Ronald Ngala, Mwai Kibaki, Masinde Muliro, Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, and a host of others.
What is it that made them stand out and be counted?
They all believed that time had come for self rule and they were determined to ensure that Kenya got her Independence in what Jaramogi famously referred to in Lancaster as ‘whether they popni or ndekni’. They had faith in their ability to deliver and they had a common reason to live for; Independence.
This was a drive that motivated the leaders, and in their mix, we had the old hands mixing pretty well with the young and upcoming leaders. These leaders took over Kenya from the colonial masters and we all know that some of them were as young as 28 years when they came into public service. The only sad thing they did was that they were not able to erect the Independence flag upright at the Uhuru Gardens. Up till now, we have men struggling to raise that flag.
Maybe it was a sign of things to come; how they were going to use the same colonial tactics of divide and rule to ruin Kenya. Food for thought.
The African scenario- the Independence struggle- 1960s
In Africa, the quest for Independence was led by young men; We had Kwame Nkurumah in Ghana, Namdi Azikiwe in Nigeria, Leopold Sedar Senghor in Senegal, Julius Nyerere in Tanzania, Kenneth Kaunda in Zambia, Nelson Mandela in South Africa, Patrice Lumumba in Congo, Milton Obote in Uganda, Hastings Kamuzu Banda in Malawi, Samora Machel in Mozambique, and a series of many others across Africa.
They were all fairly young, well educated and they had something they all believed in. They were committed to the struggle and they achieved their objectives- bringing Independence to their countries.
The Multi Party Struggle – 1980s and 90s
Fast track to the 1980s. Again we see a plethora of Young Turks taking lead in the agitation of the return to multi party politics. We had people like James Orengo, Gitobu Imanyara, Raila Odinga, Paul Muite, Kijana Wamalwa, Rashid Mzee, Anyang’ Nyong’o, Mukhisa Kituyi, Kenneth Matiba, Ahmed Barmariz, Mzee Nthenge, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Masinde Muliro, Mwai Kibaki, Njenga Karume, Martin Shikuku, Charles Rubia, and others playing lead roles in mobilizing Kenyans for change.
Again, these people had a course, a reason for agitation. They had identified the problem and they made the people resonate with them in their thinking. It is clear the Young Turks and their Old Guardians believed in something and they went for it. They were fearless and determined. Most of them paid dearly for this.
These leaders, both young and old identified the shortfalls of the then Kanu regime and they were able to mobilize Kenyans for a worthy cause against the regime. We all saw how bad governance could ruin the country and we swallowed the bait.
Young LeadersThe Constitutional Moment- 2010
Then in 2010, Kenyans trooped to the ballot boxes in our second attempt at Referendum Politics and overwhelmingly voted in a new constitution on the 4th of August 2010. At last, we all witnessed our National Flag being erected upright at Uhuru Park. This was a sign of Independence at long last.
As we celebrate this day, the 46th Independence anniversary, what lessons are we able to learn about the participation and role of young people in making of a nation? What sacrifices are we willing to make for Mother Kenya?
Developments that we have all witnessed in Kenya..
We have made important milestones since Independence. We have all seen how Kenya has continued to grow in debt as our leaders grow in riches.
We have witnessed scandals of immense proportions and I want you to help me list some of them;
1. The Chepkube Gold Rush
2. The KenRen Fertilizer Scandal
3. The Kenya Railways Scandal
4. The Goldenberg Scandal
5. The Anglo leasing Scandal
6. The Maize Scandal
7. The Triton Scandal
8. The Land Question
9. The Artur Brothers Scandal
10. The Kroll Reports
11. The Debt Question
12. The Safaricom sale fiasco
13. The Promisory Notes
14.
These are enterprises that have gobbled our money as we watch. Then, when we are given another chance at choosing our leaders, we vote back into office the architects of these scandals, just because they have used 1% of their income to buy our loyalty. Can we rise up and save Kenya from more of these scandals by using our power in numbers and our voters cards to bring change.
Young LeadersThe current challenges to the young people….
At Independence, during the fight for multi party politics and during our constitutional moment, young people played leading roles. The old men were able to ride on our backs to power, fame and everything. But one thing that remains clear, did these old men achieve the ideals for which we shed our blood, fought so hard to achieve and finally did achieve?
This is a question that must lead us down memory lane. We fought for Independence to fight Illiteracy, Poverty, Disease, Ignorance and we were aiming to fix our schools, health institutions, build good roads, have electric power in all our homes, have water for all by some given time frame and institute good governance as the guide to prosperity.
The question is; Have we achieved all these? And what is the role of young people in this failure?
Have we been used, duped and dumped?
In juxtaposing this failure, what does the current crop of young leaders believe in? Do they have a burning drive that they would want to die for? Do they love Kenya and do they have a vision for Kenya?
The sad reality is that many young leaders have fallen in love with money and money drives them crazy. They would rather become hatchet men for drug barons, charlatans, pimps and thieves; people who all want to rape Kenya.
The current crop of young leaders have nothing to live for; nothing to fight for; and no vision for Kenya. Can we change this trend and come out strongly on the right side of history where fidelity to Kenya and the rule of law becomes supreme to our thinking.
We must all come back to the basics and learn the virtues of servant leadership, where you volunteer your time not for monetary gain, but for the good of Mother Kenya. We must all come together, identify the pitfalls that old men have taken us through and rise up, dust our coats and swear never to go down that path again.
Benefits of Democracy
1. Freedom to choose our own leaders
2. Respect of the peoples will
3. Respect for human rights
4. Respect for the rule of law
5. Accountability and transparency
6. Encourages leadership
7. Peace and harmony……
Importance of Human Rights
1. Entrenched in the Bill of Rights- Chapter 4
2. Preservation of Human Dignity
3. Promotion of Social Justice
4. Ensures freedoms from discriminations
5. Ensures success of democracy
6. Ensures duty bearer and obligations of the citizenry- youth included……
Role of Citizens in the Government
1. Voting rights
2. Monitoring the Government
3. Demanding for Service Delivery
4. Supporting the Government
5. Defending the Government…..
Responsibility of Government to the Citizens
1. Making Laws
2. Protecting the Peoples rights
3. Provision of services
4. Maintaining the rule of law and order
5. Defending the country…..
An Award to Oto for his Facilitation during the Camp from Akiba Uhaki Foundation
An Award to Oto for his Facilitation during the Camp from Akiba Uhaki Foundation The future is bright for the youth of this country, but we must all live to the dictates of Chapter 6 of our Constitution on Integrity and Leadership. We must not rally behind unknown quantity. We must rally Kenyans to follow, walk and work with people, both young and old who have proved beyond any reproach that they love Kenya, they shun corruption and tribalism and that they respect our human rights as captured in the Bill of Rights in Chapter 4 of our Constitution.
Lastly, Jesus the Holy Christ started His Ministry by calling only 12 men as His Disciples at a time when communication was not easy. We now have the advantage of ICT and many Youth Groups. How best can we use all these Youth Groups as building blocks that will give us a firm foundation upon which we will reclaim Kenya from the current crop of deceitful leadership.
God bless Kenyans and God bless Kenya.
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
PO Box 47890-00100,
Nairobi Kenya.
Tel; 0724 365 557, 0735 529 126
http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com
friendsofkcdn@yahoogroups.com
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
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