Our Programmes at KCDN

We have 3 programmes running concurrently at KCDN and they are all linked up.

Our forte is child support which we run through the KCDN Child Support Initiative. In our inaugural meet of last year, the Director of Basic Education Mrs Leah Rotich was our Key Speaker in a celebration where our Chief Guest was Ms Irene Wasike of Barclays Bank. On this day, we gave 250 Orphans and Vulnerable Children books, stationery and uniforms, courtesy of the Friends of KCDN and Friendly Institutions, key among them being Phoenix Aviation Ltd who were our single largest supporter for the event.

Following the success of that day, many children and their parents/guardians came to us for support. Through Nestle Kenya Ltd, Tetra Pak EA Ltd, Text Book Centre Ltd, Express Connections Ltd, The Cradle, Capital Airlines Ltd, Rachier and Amolo Advocates, H20 Beverages Ltd, Mini Bakeries [Nairobi] Ltd, Phoenix Publishers Ltd, East African Educational Publishers Ltd, Aristocrats Insurance Brokers Ltd, and many Friends of KCDN, we were able to mobilize nutritional as well as educational support for these children.

We will again converge on 4th December 2009 to once more give these children educational support. This time around the number is large and we again will rely on your generousity to support the 1950 who have registered with us. We do not need money as usual, we need the items. And all those who have supported us know that we ask them to pay for our provisions. If we receive cash support, we pass it to the correct Initiative.

Our 2nd programme is the KCDN Peace Run/Walk. We encourage the children and parents in our KCDN Child Support Initiative to become Peace Ambassadors. We encourage all to be as open as possible about their political preference and ensure that it does not become a source of conflict. We are one family and as we vote separately, we must eat together as one family. We hosted the 2nd Edition of the KCDN Peace Run/Walk on 13th June 2009 and again, we must appreciate the support we got from the many Friends of KCDN and in particular, Akiba Uhaki Foundation who were our single biggest supporter this time around, and the Administration Police Band for leading the event. Last year, SGS Kenya Ltd were our single biggest supporter. Again like we do with all our Initiatives, we do not ask for money, we ask for provisional support.

Our last programme is the KCDN Environmental Conservation. This year, we mobilized our children and their parents to join us and the residents of Komarock on a clean up of the Komarock Canal on 5th September 2009. We must thank Total Kenya Ltd for having been our largest supporter this year by donating to us seedlings and cash to facilitate the process. We must also thank Safaricom Ltd for having donated to us cleaning equipment worth Kshs 50,000.00. And we msut that the City Council of Nairobi who were our partners in this clean up. Again, as we do with all our Initiatives, we ask for provisional support. If you give us cash, we pass it on to the Initiative.

Lastly, like all organizations, we have administrative costs to meet. We have an office to pay rent for, the rent of which I have been paying largely from the family business proceeds. However, when we were had up and at the point of being thrown out at some point, Friends of KCDN responded with speed and raised the rent arrears for us. Like all nascent organizations, we have our fair share of administrative issues to handle, and if any Friend of KCDN wishes to support us by paying our rent, we will welcome that. If you want to give our staff some token of appreciation, we will welcome that. We really need it as we engage in our core services.

It is that openness that has endeared many people and institutions to us. We really value that support, and as we approach our last event of the year, we appeal to many more Friends of KCDN to step forward and help us help these children.

They need your support, now, not tomorrow.

Peace and goodwill to all men of goodwill [that includes women]

Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi.

Thank You for the support

Thank You for the support

This is to appreciate and thank you for the support that you have extended to us. We acknowledge receipt of the following items from Laser Beam Solutions;

• 12pairs Gum Boots,

• 2 Wheelbarrows,

• 5 Garden Rakes,

• 5 Fork Jembes,

• 5 Spades,

• 5 Pangas,

• 5 Jembes,

• 5 Muttocks,

• 4 Tarimbos,

• 10 Rubber Gloves.
  

As we thank you, we are looking forward to working more closely with you in the conversion of the canal into a Community Arboretum.

Peace and blessings,

Odhiambo T Oketch,

CEO KCDN Nairobi,

Tel; 0735 529 126, 0724 365 557,

Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com, friendofkcdn@gmail.com

Launch of the KCDN Working Team

On 3rd November 2009, the Deputy Town Clerk, City Council of Nairobi, Ms Jane Ndong'a visited with us at the Komarock Canal. On the same day, we were privileged to host Mr. Timothy Muriuki, Chairman Nairobi Central Business District Association.

With these visits, the work to convert the Canal into a Community Arboretum begins.

In partnership with the City Council of Nairobi, KCDN is mobilizing technical support and resources to ensure that by March 2010, the first phase is complete and ready for an official launch.

We have also formed the Community Safety Forum under the Chairmanship of Mr. Joshua Koskey, formerly of Kenya Commercial Bank. He is being helped by Ms Florence Kanyua and Mr. Allan Kitavi as Convenors.

The Team includes Mr. Eric Juma, Ms Christine Mogalo, Mr, Gabriel Muchira, Mr. Frederick Mumbo, Mr. Peter Bichanga, Ms Elizabeth Mwende, Ms Lillian Kimani, Mr. Maina Kariuki, Ms Mellen Kinaru and Eng Barrack Okal.

The enire team is being led by Mr. Reginald Okumu as Chairman, and includes the Director City Planning, Mr. Timothy Kariuki, The area Chief, Director Environment City Council of Nairobi, Mr. Steve Oundo, Chairman Architectural Association of Kenya and Odhiambo T Oketch as the CEO.

We are determined to make Komarock a Model Satellite Estate in Africa based on the Safer Cities Initiative. The Canal gives us the first challenge.

We merrily invite your support and partnership. Peace and blessings.

Odhiambo T Oketch

KCDN Community Safety Forum

KCDN Community Safety Forum

31st October 2009 at KCDN offices

Attendance
Mr. Joshua Koskey – Chairman Tel; 0721 449 795
Ms Florence Kanyua- Co-convener Tel; 0735 449 271
Mr. Allan Kitavi- Co-convener Tel; 0722 330 136
Ms Elizabeth Mwende Tel; 0722 499 655
Ms Lilian Kimani Tel; 0721 212 504
Mr. Samuel Mugweru Tel; 0724 301 468
Mr. Peter Bichange Tel; 0722 463 911
Ms Christine Mogalo Tel; 0722 259 290
Mr. Gabriel Muchira Tel; 0721 561 281
Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch – CEO KCDN Nairobi

Apologies
Mr. Lukas Midega
Ms Rose Okoth Otieno
Mr. Peter Kariuki- Ward Chairman [represented by Ms Lilian Kimani]
Cllr John Muchori- Councilor Komarock Ward.

The meeting started with a word of prayer from Ms Christine Mogalo. This committee is composed of residents who are members of the Komarock Residents Association also.

The Canal Initiative updates given and members had very invaluable inputs. Members agreed that it was time for such interventions that would once and for all address our environmental and security concerns. We agreed to involve as many residents as possible.

Mr. Joshua Koskey was appointed to chair the KCDN Community Safety Forum while Ms Florence Kanyua and Mr. Allan Kitavi were appointed to be the Co-conveners.

Members were all in agreement that they will mobilize support to receive the Town Clerk on Tuesday 3rd November 2009. We will also work as a team to seek out all the needed support from the City Council of Nairobi, the Government and all our Development Partners.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi.
Tel; 0735 529 126, 0724 365 557
http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

Town Clerk to Visit KCDN

The Town Clerk, City Council of Nairobi Mr. Philip Kisia will be launching the KCDN Working Committee on the conversion of Komarock Canal into a Community Arboretum on 3rd November 2009 at 11.00am in Komorack. He will tour the Canal, plant a commemorative tree and there after unveil the team at the KCDN offices.
This is an initiative of KCDN and the City Council of Nairobi and we are interesting several Development Partners with it. Already Total Kenya Ltd has given us seedlings that we planted along the Canal on 5th September 2009 besides other logistical support. Safaricom Ltd have also written to us offering to buy for us cleaning equipment worth Kshs 50,000.00. Several Friends of KCDN have been of immense support.
We will be reaching out to several development partners both within and without to ensure that our dream of an Arboretum is achieved.
We want Komarock Estate to be the Model Satellite Estate under the Safer Cities Initiative in Africa. To this extent, we appeal for more positiveness as we marshall all the support that we can. We also want the people to engage more positively with the Council so that we can all do our part in reclaiming Nairobi to the Nairobi that we all need.
We have a very dedicated team behind this Initiative and the Town Clerk will unveil the names of the technocrats behind this drive on site on 3rd November 2009.
Lets join hands and make Komarock an example of what partnerships between the people, the Council, the Government and the Development Partners can achieve.
Peace and blessings,
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi.
Tel; 0735 529 126, 0724 365 557,
Email; friendofkcdn@gmail.com, komarockswatch@yahoo.com

Meeting with PS Local Government

On 15th October 2009, I led a team from the Stakeholders Evaluation Team that evaluated the performance of sectional heads at the City Council of Nairobi to an introductory meeting with the PS Local Government Mr. Sammy Kirui at his office at Jogoo House.

We discussed issues of mutual concern and the need to stregnthen stakeholders involvement in evaluation Local Authority Officers.

Standing Left to right- Ms Stella Agara, Mr. Kinuthia Wamwamgi, Mr. Hillary Nyagah, Mr. John Kihiu, ms Petronilla Nafula, Mr. Gordon Ojijo.

Seated; Ms Christiane Anthony, Mr. Sammy Kirui and Odhiambo T Oketch

Eric Jangolo Supports KCDN

We were privileged today when Mr. Eric Jangolo fulfilled his promise of giving us a spade.

He came with it very early, presented it to our team leader Mr Samuel Mugweru and immediately went into the trench to show us how to use it.

Many thanks to Eric. He is the first resident of Komarock to offer some equipment. We are also very appreciative of residents who have taken to watering the seedlings that we planted on 5th September. You are a blessing to us.

As we look forward to more support coming in, we have a team on site that has been so consistent. We are asking for more volunteers to step forward and offer them some allowances. They have families and they must live their lives. We need to appreciate them in some small way.

Any support towards their upkeep on site will be really appreciated.

Our sincere appreciation to Mr. Eric Jangolo. You have energized our resolve to fix this place.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi.
Tel; 0735 529 126, 0724 365 557,
Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com, friendofkcdn@gmail.com