Reinventing our Pride; Transforming Kenya

Friends,
In driving The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign, we have been very deliberate. We have been appealing to the general sense of Kenyans to feel proud that we can indeed Transform Kenya from where we are currently to a different level.
I want to invite all of you to what we have achieved so far; www.kcdnkenya.org and http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com If you visit our website, go to About us- Downloads. These could not have been possible without your support.

This is the Kenya we must leave

It all starts by reclaiming our immediate neighbourhoods. How best can we reclaim our immediate neighbourhoods if we cannot maintain simple levels of cleanliness. We must start by cleaning our neighbourhoods of all litter and garbage. We must stop throwing litter any how. We must stop living with mounds of garbage in our midst and behave as if that is normal.
We firmly believe that we have some very basic things we must do. We want to invite your thinking to some of these basic things;

1. We must as a people re-create a new sense of hope and confidence in our abilities as a people.
2. We must accept and start appreciating that we can also live in clean, safe and secure neighbourhoods.
3. We must start arresting and charging all those who litter our neighbourhood.
   
4. We must accept that order can also thrive in the informal settlements. Who says that we cannot plan how we live in the informal settlements?
5. We must start respecting the laws of the land as we go about in Nation Building.
6. This means, we must respect the rights of each and every one of us.
7. We must build houses in conformity to the laid down requirements and standards, respecting the Building Codes as we do so.
8. We must respect the rights of other road users as we drive on our motor ways.
9. We must stop throwing out rubbish through the car windows as we travel.
   
10. We must respect each and every persons right to life, to vote, to education, to better shelter, to ....
11. We must join hands in shunning corruption from all quarters. It has messed Kenya for the last 48 years and we need not experiment any more.
12. We must stop voting for those who have known and proven corruption cases to be our leaders. Honestly, what do you expect if you vote a thief to be your leader?
    
13. We must know that we are One People Under God.
14. We must reclaim Kenya and keep her clean as God ordained during creation time.
15. We must plant enough trees and help keep Mother Kenya green.
16. We must avoid theories that add no known values to our aspiration as a country. If it is about planting trees, lets plant trees, leave theories out of this. God will take care of the rest.
    
17. We must accept that our strengths lie in our unity as a people.
    
18. We must look at each other as One Special God's Bits of Wood.
    
19. We must Love each other as God desired of us.
20. Lastly, we must love God with all our hearts, might and soul. In His providence we dwell all the times.
    

It is a whole loaded programme, and it starts from somewhere. We are happy that Kenyans have made these first steps to Transforming Kenya and surely, we will not fail.
We must go slow on politics and its intrigues. Some Kenyans are busy politicking all the times, engaging in acts that tend to divide more than unite us as a country. We must go slow on this and move Kenya in one decisive direction that will spur economic take off.

And this is the Kenya we must embrace, where the leaders show leadership through action.

If we go back to these simple things, I want to believe we will be in a position to catch up with our Independence Siblings, the Koreas and others whom we were at par with in 1963.
In Transforming Kenya, the Police Force must remain faithful to the rule of Law. The Judges must dispense justice in fidelity to the law. They must not auction justice to the highest bidders. And Parliamentarians must rise to the occasion. They must not be vindictive while legislating.
The Architects must respect their professions. Accountants must stop being creative with figures. Doctors must maintain allegiance to the Hippocratic Oath. Road Engineers must build roads without paying homage to Lords of Impunity and Kenyans must rise to the occasion as One People Under God with a shared destiny.
We must shun all Lords of Graft, people who believe in impunity, and leadership must be given to those who show humility and love of the human being. We must avoid all people who thrive on politics of deceit and chest thumping, people who would rather Kenyans killed each other for them to ascend to the top leadership.
It is time we Branded Kenya as a destination of choice for the whole world. It is with all these in mind that we are once again inviting all Kenyans whenever you are, to join us in The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign.
Lastly, our media must focus on issues that unite us as a country and they must desist from the kind of theatrics they are engaged with. The media is dividing Kenyans and it is time someone stopped them.
The ball is firmly in our court as Kenyans, and we can easily choose to Transform Kenya to be the Kenya we want.
As usual, A Clean Kenya Starts With Me. And a Peaceful Kenya is My Responsibility. And if you might want to be of support to us, you may get in touch with the undersigned.
We at KCDN -www.kcdnkenya.org  firmly believe that we the People of Kenya can help Clean Kenya.
This is a campaign for Kenya by Kenyans. Let us make it big......
If it is to be, it is up to me. A Clean  Kenya  Starts With me. A Peaceful Kenya is my Responsibility.
Disclaimer; The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign is about us Kenyans. It involves all Kenyans from the various regions, religious persuasions, political thinking and we do not discriminate against any Kenyans nor any region.

Peace and blessings,

Odhiambo T Oketch

CEO KCDN Nairobi

Nationwide Coordinator - Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign
National Coordinator- Friends of KNH Maternity Unit

Nairobi PC launches the Consultative Team; NLPD

Komarocks Community Development Network

The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign

Nairobi Litter Picking Day

Consultative Team; 24^th August 2011 at Integrity Centre

Attendance List;

	Name of participant	Name of Organization	Telephone	Email address
1	Mr. Njoroge Ndirangu	PC Nairobi
2	Dr A K Akidiva	POE KACC
3	Odhiambo T Oketch	KCDN Nairobi
4	Evarlyne Mutia	KCDN Nairobi
5	Monicah W Mburu	KCDN Nairobi
6	Aol Paul	EK centre
7	Juliet Mwaniki	SNEP
8	Linah Wodera	Wildlife Clubs of Kenya
9	Egra Ombati	GPYC
10	Dominic Kikuyu	CCN- Public Health
11	Gabriel Omondi	CCN- Environment
12	Stephen Ireri	CCN- Decentralization
13	Louise Waweru	CCN
14	Rhoda Otieno	PC’s Office nairobi
15	Pauline W Njau	Media Machine
16

The meeting started with a word of Prayer led by Dr AK Akidiva at 9.15am followed by quick introductions

Dr Akidiva welcomed all of the Consultative Team members to Integrity Centre on behalf of the Director and CEO Prof PLO Lumumba. He made it known to us that Prof Lumumba would have liked to be with us but was held in a meeting with some visiting Diplomats. He did appreciate that the PC Nairobi could make time to come and be in attendance in person and passed well wishes from the KACC Family.

Nairobi PC Mr. Njoroge Ndirangu officially launching the Nairobi Litter Picking Day Consultative Team at Integrity Centre 24th August 2011 with Ms Linah Wodera of Wildlife Clubs of Kenya

 Odhiambo T Oketch took the Consultative Team Members through The Monthly Nationwide Clean Up Campaign and invited joint efforts in tackling the litter and garbage menace in Nairobi and Kenya as a whole. He pointed out that the Clean-up Campaign was started in Nairobi in September last year and time has come for the Campaign to start creating some impact with Kenyans.

He said that the Campaign has since been started in Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisii, Kisumu, Kakamega and Nyeri.

He played a short video clip of the garbage problem; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhnRyu8rCdY

Lastly, he invited the Consultative Team to form 4 Working Committees as follows, and immediately, the following persons volunteered;

1; Mobilization Committee;

1.      Mr. Njoroge Ndirangu- PC Nairobi- Chair

2.      Ms Rhoda Otieno- PC’s Office- Alternate Chair

3.      Mr. Stephen Ireri- CCN- Member

4.      Mr. Gabriel Omondi- CCN- Member

5.      Ms Juliet Mwaniki- SNEP- Member

6.      Ms Linah Wodera- Wildlife Clubs of Kenya- Member

7.      Ms Egra Ombati- GPYC- Member

This team will reach out to all known groups in Nairobi- churches, schools, CSOs, FBOs, Government Departments, Neighbourhood Associations, Youth and Women Groups etc.

2. Publicity and Media Outreach;

1.      Ms Pualine W Njau- Media Machine- Chair

2.      Mr. Marube- CCN- Member

3.      Mr. Nicholas Simani- KACC- Member

4.      Mr. Paul Aol- EK Centre- Member

This team will seek Media Partnerships and will ensure that the Campaign is visible. They will also arrange for talk shows both on Print and Electronic Media. They will work on a media strategy that will make this Campaign a Must Do for the residents of Nairobi

3. Financial Resources Mobilization;

1.      Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch- KCDN- Chair

2.      Mr. Paul Aol- EK Centre- Member

This team will reach out to willing Partners for Financial and Material Support. They will work closely with the PC Nairobi, the TC City Council of Nairobi and the Director and CEO of KACC.

Consultative Team Members

It was agreed that all these Teams can co-opt any other Members as they deem fair and appropriate.

It was then the time for the PC Nairobi to officially launch the Consultative Team. Mr.Ndirangu, who is also the Chair to the Provincial Environment Committee, started by saying that this is an idea whose time has come and that is why he had to attend the Consultative meeting in person.

He recalled the Nairobi of yester years when provisions of services were at their best. He remembered how efficient road transport was and how the Council used to collect garbage promptly. Those were the days when even dead animals used to be picked from our streets with ease, drainages used to be cleaned and they were sprayed for mosquitos and vermins.

He noted that with the high explosion in population and the rural urban migration, Nairobi has grown big and provision of services is stretched. This then calls for joint efforts in addressing the litter and garbage menace, saying that the Nairobi Litter Picking Day is such one great effort that he will give all his attention and support.

He also noted that the right to a clean and safe environment has now become a right in our Constitution and as such, we must all play our parts by becoming responsible in how we dispose of our litter and garbage. He said he will enlist the support and active participation of the Provincial Administration machinery, the District Environmental Committees and the Youth and Women groups.

Consultative Team Members

Lastly, he called for coordination and harmonization of the Clean-up Activities in Nairobi to ensure that they all take place on one day. He was happy that both the City Council of Nairobi and the Nairobi Metropolitan Ministry have a designated day in the Month when they conduct such activities. It was a general feeling that the 3^rd Saturday of every Month should be the ideal date for all such clean-up activities.

With those remarks, Mr. Ndirangu had the Consultative Team officially launched.

The next meeting will be on the 1^st September 2011 at 9.00am at City Hall where the Working groups will present their various reports for adoption and execution.

We were all invited to health break as the meeting came to an end at 10.15am.

We at KCDN -www.kcdnkenya.org  firmly believe that we the People of Kenya can help Clean Kenya.
This is a campaign for Kenya by Kenyans. Let us make it huge success......
If it is to be, it is up to me. A Clean  Kenya  Starts With me. A Peaceful Kenya is my Responsibility.
Disclaimer; The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign is about us Kenyans. It involves all Kenyans from the various regions, religious persuasions, political thinking and we do not discriminate against any Kenyans nor any region.                                                                                   Peace and blessings,

Odhiambo T Oketch- Coordinating

Moving From Talking to Tasking

Oto's Address to the Rotaract Club of Nairobi 18th August 2011

18th August 2011
Effecting the Law; A call to action
Mr. President, Members of the Rotaract Club, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honour to be invited to address such a gathering. You are well known for your resolve to action and helping where there is need. And we must all join hands in applause, in appreciation of what you have achieved for the less fortunate over a period of time.
Now, I was invited to give a quick back ground of what The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign is all about. I will be quick and brief.
This is a Campaign that was initiated in Komarock Estate when we first hosted a Clean up Campaign where we were joined by the Children we support, their parents/guardians, the City Council employees and the Provincial Administration. We then made a letter to the Town Clerk requesting that we join hands and mobilize the whole of Nairobi into action.
This was achieved on the 18th September 2010 when His Worship the then Mayor of Nairobi Cllr Geoffrey Majiwa flagged off the first City Wide Clean up Campaign in Eastleigh in Nairobi. Since then, the City Council of Nairobi has hosted the Clean-up Campaigns every 3rd Saturday of the Month. We are happy to have made some positive contribution to this process.
In January 2011, having seen that it was possible, we decided to do The Monthly Nationwide Clean up Campaigns across all Kenya. We rolled the Campaign in Mombasa in February, in Eldoret in May, Kisii in June, Kisumu and Kakamega in July, and tomorrow, we are heading to Nyeri to roll out the same.
This has been an enriching Campaign for us. We have in the process seen the resolve of Kenyans in supporting us and ensuring that it is done. The only bit that we have found wanting is how the law is being applied to ensure that we have a Clean neighbourhood.
In places like Califonia, if you litter and get arrested, you are slapped with a fine of USD 1,000. In other places and Towns, the fines are such heavy that you will think twice. But in Kenya, and across all our Towns, littering and depositing garbage by the next corner is a prime time occupation, and it seems to pay.
No one has been arrested for littering and depositing garbage in our neighbourhoods. And today, we must ask the hard questions. Do you think we will solve this problem of garbage everywhere you turn if we do not enforce the law?
We must all join hands and demand that the law enforcement agencies, be they the police, the Council askaris or the neighbourhood vigilantes, we must all join hands and ensure that all those who litter and deposit garbage in our neighbourhoods are arrested and charged appropriately. The courts must then hand in heavy penalties that will act as deterrent to all others who would like to do the same.
In the same vein, we must today demand that all the Councils across Kenya must ensure that we have demarcated places in our neighbourhoods where the waste that we generate are deposited awaiting being carted away to the Dump Sites.
Now, this will call fo some clear resolve. We must all walk the talk and work hand in hand with the various councils as strategic partners in solving this garbage menace. It is doable and we can do it.
In mobilizing The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign, we have faced Resources Mobilization Challenges;

Financial Resource Mobilization; This has been a serious handicap to the Campaign. We have largely depended on the goodwill of Friends of KCDN, and with these hard times, Friends tend to wear off. We want to invite your support with this to ensure that we have a sustained Campaign
Human Resource Mobilization; Again, this has been a serious issue. We have many groups that are willing to take part. But, they must be mobilized and sensitized on what we are facing. This needs a lot of financial input, and we want to work with willing partners to surmount this.
Institutional Resource Mobilization; Apart from the Councils and the various Provincial Administration Officers who join us in the Monthly Campaigns, we have not seen any Institution which have come out to join in the Campaign. We are desirous of Institutions stepping forward and declaring that as part of their Corporate Social responsibilities, they will be joining in The Monthly Nationwide Clean up Campaign.
In short, we must start respecting our laws and respecting ourselves. We must stop dumping garbage at every corner. We must stop throwing litter as we walk and as we drive. And, we must enforce the law.
Lastly, I want to invite your partnership to this campaign. It is worth joining with Partners who will ensure that the resources needed for the Campaign are sourced. It is worth joining with Partners who will ensure that they physically come out and move with us to the trenches. And it is worth joining hands with Partners who believe that a Clean Kenya is possible.
We want to invite you to follow The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign vide;

http://www.kcdnkenya.org/
http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com/
Monthly Nationwide Clean Up Campaign on Facebook.

Many thanks once more.
God Bless you all. God Bless KCDN and God bless Kenya. This is a campaign for Kenya by Kenyans. Let us make it big......
If it is to be, it is up to me. A Clean Kenya Starts With me. A Peaceful Kenya is my Responsibility.

Disclaimer; The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign is about us Kenyans. It involves all Kenyans from the various regions, religious persuasions, political thinking and we do not discriminate against any Kenyans nor any region.

Odhiambo T Oketch

Oto meets Prof Anyang' Nyong'o

Prof Anyang' Nyong'o has been one Minister who has been very keen about the success of The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign and today, I paid a courtesy call on him at his Afya House offices to discuss how best to sustain the Campaign.
Prof Nyong'o is the Minister for Medical Services in the Government of Kenya.
Odhiambo T Oketch and Hon Prof Anyang' Nyong'o at his offices 17th Aug 2011
He was very appreciative of the way the campaign has been run on the support of the People of Kenya and promised his support to the campaign as well, but in a manner that will enable the campaign become sustainable.
On behalf of the KCDN Family and The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign Team across the Country, I want to register our sincere appreciation to the Hon Prof. We are looking forward to working more closely with him in pursuit of a Clean Kenya.

Odhiambo T Oketch
CEO KCDN Nairobi