Speech by Odhiambo T Oketch to the ODM Youth 2012 Convention

25^th June 2011

Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to have been invited to this First Convention of the Orange Democratic Movement Youth 2012 to share my thoughts and aspirations for Kenya with your Conveners from the 47 Counties of Kenya. 

Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch does what he likes; engaging the people at the ODM Youth Convention on 25th July 2011.

I must start by making it clear that I am a Kenyan who believes in Kenya and Kenyans. I believe that, united as One People Under God, we can deliver for Kenya. I also want to make it very clear from the outset that I did accept the invitation from your very able Chairman Mr. Norman Magaya strictly on account that my presence will not restrict me to sharing my thoughts with any other Kenyans of different political persuasion.

We are One Family and our destiny as a country must be in our hands no matter what we believe in, no matter what faith we profess and which ever political party we belong to. And this is why we at KCDN have made very deliberate efforts to work with all Kenyans in our various activities. 

Prof Barrack Abonyo delivering his key note speech

I was delighted in my discussions with your Core Team and what impressed me more was your desire to do things differently as you pursue partisan political agenda. I was much more impressed with your interest in the Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign and our Child Support Programme. This is one area that has been very close to my heart and this is why, The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign is getting accepted in all the regions we are visiting.

We will work closely with you in our Clean-up Campaigns, just like we have been working with all Friends of KCDN. But when it comes to your political agenda, you are on your own. We will not participate because the Clean-up and the Child Support Initiatives are campaigns which we are running in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Kenya, the Local Authorities, the Provincial Administrations, the Corporates, the Institutions of Learning and Friends of KCDN from all political persuasions and beliefs. 

Odhiambo T Oketch with Prof John Maina- a Consultant at the Office of the Prime Minister

This is a campaign which appreciates that we are all Kenyans and that Kenya is far much greater than any one of us. This is our Kenya, the Kenya we all want and at KCDN, we have developed a maxim; A Clean Kenya Starts With Me. As responsible citizens, we must invite ourselves to doing the right things;

1.     Disposing our waste responsibly,

2.     Building our houses responsibly- we must abide by the set standards and respect the by-laws.

3.     Driving our cars responsibly on our roads as we respect the rights of other road users and life,

4.     Paying our taxes just like all Kenyans are doing,

5.     Having access to affordable Health Care System by joining the National Hospital Insurance Fund,

6.     Helping in upholding the rights of all Kenyans as established in the Constitution,

7.     Voting responsibly and accepting defeat if need be,

8.     And loving our neighbours as we love ourselves.

As a political Lobby Group, you will face challenges in dealing with Kenyans. I want to assure you that you will not get anything for free. You will have to fight for your space, first, within your own party and secondly, within the Kenyan political arena. You will be called names and branded all sorts of things. But you must be ready to deal with that. I know you have the numbers and the will power. I also know that you are ready and decided. 

Short Break; L-R Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch, Prof John Maina, Ms Vivian Ogutu, Mr. Oduor Ong'wen, Mr. Martin Oloo and another Delegate

You have the moment that can make you change the dynamics of politics in Kenya. For long, the middle class have always sat down to watch football as other Kenyans struggle to make Kenya better. I am happy that you are ready to change this and move with some of us to the trenches. I want to watch you in action to enable your Chairman join our team of growing Generals; men and women who have led from the front in the Clean-up Campaign.

You are the change we want in Kenya.

For so long and I want to be very clear on this, Kenya has been messed by bad politics. For 48 years, we have nothing to be proud of as Kenyans. We are talking of a Vision 2030 that is heading nowhere. The only thing we are seeing as country working for Vision 2030 is the Road Network to Thika and the envisaged Railway Network, again, to Thika. The rest of the Country has nothing.

Receiving Prof Abonyo; L-R Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch, Mr. Lee Makwiny, Prof Barrack Abonyo and Mr. Charles Inwani

We are talking about the fight against corruption yet, corruption is planned daily in Government by the people we are paying to manage the affairs of Kenya. Just imagine where Kenya would have been if our political leaders put efforts at National Development the same way they are putting efforts at stealing money meant for educating our kids?

Just imagine where Kenya would have been if our political leaders put in efforts at National Development the same way they are putting efforts at stealing maize that should feed Kenyans?

Just imagine where Kenya would have been if our political leaders put in efforts at National Development the same way they are putting efforts at stealing oil that should drive our Industries, vehicles and power our kitchens?

Just imagine where Kenya would have been if our political leaders put in efforts at National Development the same way they are putting efforts at planning Goldenberg?

Just imagine where Kenya would have been if our political leaders put in efforts at National Development the same way they are putting efforts at planning Anglo-Leasing?

You have some chance to address these ills as political players and this you must do without any fear or favour. Do not be afraid of attacking corruption and bad leadership even if it is coming from your own party, from your fellow tribes man, even from your family. You must seize the moment and help bring internal democracy to Kenya. 

The Brains behind the ODM Youth 2012; L-R Ms Vivian Ogutu- The National Organizing Secretary, Ms Pamela Muthama- The National Treasurer and Mr. Norman Magaya- The National Chairman

I am happy that Kenya is largely benefiting from the efforts of the Rt Hon Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga and a few young Kenyans who dared the authorities at their time to help us get the freedoms that we are currently misusing. When the Young Turks dared the then regime, many Kenyans sat on the fence and even hit them back. They were arrested several times, some detained and now, we are all benefiting from their toil.

We can even afford to dare someone like the Rt Hon Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya to freedom contests, yet, when he was fighting for these freedoms, some of us were firmly serving the then regime. But that is politics, the domain you guys are joining.

I wish that you will also stand up and stand up for Kenya. We must get new crop of Kenyans who can stand up and feel the heat on behalf of us just like Raila Amolo Odinga has felt the heat for us. I know that some of you are ready for the heat. You are welcome to the trenches.

I also know that you have cowards amongst you. They are also welcome, because history has taught us that you can be a perpetual fence sitter and still end up well. The option is yours.

We are the change we need for Kenya. Some of us have decided to do things differently and I believe that you will also bring in some difference in how you conduct your affairs and relate with Kenyans. The time is now and you must seize the moment.

If we do the right things, we will be at peace with ourselves and we will leave a legacy just like your Party Leader is leaving for Kenyans. He is a man we must all respect. The man has tremendous will power and he has done Kenya proud. I am happy to note that he is the only leader who talks about Kenyans being One Family Under God besides His Excellency the President Mwai Kibaki.

He needs your support and our collective support as Kenyans. I know you can help propel his campaign to the next level. You have the numbers and you are all still in your prime, just like he was when he started fighting for the rights of Kenyans. Go out and do all that you can to help him.

Today, I have the privilege of calling you into action. I know you are the face of Kenya and the leaders upon whom our sorrow and mismanagement of the last 48 years lies.

Let us join hands as Kenyans and help clean our country under the auspices of The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign. I want to invite all of you to the trenches across all Kenya; http://www.kcdnkenya.org  http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

Let us join hands and be of support to the Mothers and their Children under the auspices of the Child Support Initiative.

Let us clean our mindsets of the cobwebs of tribalism, nepotism, hero worship, bad governance, corruption, and rampant stealing of state resources. Let us invite our leaders to love Kenya more than they love themselves.

Let us rally Kenyans to the dictates of Chapter 6 of our Constitution on Integrity and Leadership.

Let us invite Kenyans to go for Identity Cards, register as voters and help put in place a Captain who can lead us in crossing the Bridge; the Bridge of poverty, mismanagement, bad governance and all that.

Let us invite Kenyans to vote for a leadership that unites, inspires and visionary.

Let us invite Kenyans to register with the National Hospital Insurance Fund as an affordable Health Care Scheme of choice.

Let us invite Kenyans to all join in the fight against corruption.

Let us invite Kenyans to be active monitors of Devolved Funds. These are not personal donations to our Members of Parliament and Councilors. These are funds meant to develop Kenya.

Let us invite Kenyans to live the dream of our fore fathers; a Kenya where Justice is our Shield and Defender.

Let us invite Kenyans to live peacefully with each other, embrace the spirit of love and engage each other in harmony and humility.

Let us invite Kenyans to be the champions of Social Justice and Human Rights.

Let us invite Kenyans to be the Change Agents that we want.

You have the numbers and I want to believe, you have the energy.

God bless us, God bless the Captain and God bless Kenya.

Odhiambo T Oketch is the CEO at KCDN and the Nationwide Coordinator of the Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign. He is also the current Chairman to the City Council of Nairobi Stakeholders Evaluation Team on Performance Contracting and Rapid Results Management. He is also Chair to the Nyamonye Catholic Church Development Fund. 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. He is the Convener of the upcoming 2nd Edition of the Great Nairobi Walk against Corruption to be held on the 21st October 2011 in Nairobi Kenya.

    .......Moving From Talking to Tasking........