Going back to the Basics

Friends,
I was in Kisumu for a series of meetings on Sunday the 28th April and Monday the 29th April 2013 and I want to report to all our Team Members that the visit was very fruitful.
Following extensive engagements, Ms Florence Obura will lead our Mass Mobilization in Kisumu County and she will be helped by a Team of Volunteers including Ms Mary Anyango and Ms Belinda Awuor. They will get technical support from Mzee Hesbon Okwogo, Eng Peter Orawo, Mzee Peter Owiti and others.
L-R; Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch, Mzee Hesbon Okwogo, Ms Florence Obura, Eng Peter Orawo- at the back, and Mzee Peter Owiti after their meeting at the DC's Board Room in Kisumu yesterday the 29th April 2013
Today in the morning,I had extensive discussions with Mr. Moses Ojany- Chairman Insurance Consumers Association of Kenya and Mr. Jeconia Odhiambo- Branch Manager Gateway Insurance and we are discussing how to move our agenda forward.
I am happy to report to all Team Members that Registration for Membership at Kimisho Community Development Network is on going just as Kimisho Savings Sacco Ltd. We are optimistic that we shall have the Two Certificates with me by Friday 3rd May.
I am also happy to invite all those who will make it to join us for our 1st Group Meeting on Saturday the 4th May at 2.00pm at Villa Rosa Club in Komarock Phase 2. In between, I will be holding meetings with some key interest groups as we plan our scheduled Consultative and Awareness Campaigns across Nyanza on the following dates;

1. 8th May- Mwisho Mwisho at Siaya from 10am.
2. 9th May- ACK Church in Bondo from 10am
3. 10th May- YWCA in Kisumu from 10am
4. 11th May- Awasi
5. 13th May- Migori
6. 14th May- Awendo
7. 15th May- Homa Bay
8. 16th May- Oyugis.

We are inviting our Team Members in Awasi, Migori, Awendo, Homa Bay and Oyugis to give us venues for the meetings.
Lastly, hosting these events are never easy. It needs our collective support and as such, I really want to sincerely thank the following Friends who contributed towards our 1st visit to Kisumu over the Weekend;

1. Mr. Joel Akama- Kshs 1530.00
2. Ms Quinter Odhiambo- Kshs 5,000.00
3. Mr. Eric Omondi- Kshs 1,500.00
4. Mr. Elijah Agevi; Kshs 450.00
5. Mr. Joshua Ongoge Odede; Kshs 650.00

Thank you and be blessed.
We will need more of this support and partnership as we work for The Great Revival; Going back to the Basics.
Peace and blessings,

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Team Leader and Executive Director,
Kimisho Community Development Network- KCDN
Tel; +254 724 365 557
Email; kimishodevelopment@gmail.com
Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com
Group Mailing List; friendsofnyanza@yahoogroups.com
Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

The buck stops with the Directors of Environment

Dear Friends,
Now that the President and his Deputy are set to name their Government, there is a lot of expectations from the public. We are expecting the same kind of public overhaul from our Governors as well.
We will be celebrating our Silver Jubilee on the 1st June 2013 and sadly, our Towns and Cities are clogged with dirt, garbage and waste at every open space you can come across. Our drainage systems are clogged and when it rains like it does now, water flows freely across our roads and fields, leading to massive infrastructural damage even as our people get displaced from their homes.
We have been with these problems for the last 50 years and it is time we make a break with the past. The President is set to break from the past by naming a completely new Team to help him run the business of Government and we are expecting the Governors to also name a complete new set of Directors to help them run the County Governments.
And like our Deputy President William Ruto likes saying, we must not engage in guess works. We must make some things happen. Clean Cities and Towns will never just happen by themselves. Sure and planned interventions must be put in place to enable us move from this culture of guess work. Our various Directors of Environment are engaging in management by guess work and it will never achieve any results.

Clean up Campaign organized at Kongowea by The Clean Africa Campaign, our Partners and the Mombasa City County

The success of any institution rests with the ability of the Head and in our case, the cleanliness or lack of the same in a Town or City is judged by the performance of the Director of Environment. He or she has been the face of the Council in Waste and Garbage Management and as such, they will remain the faces of the County Governments. If they have failed to manage Garbage and Waste in the past, nothing new will be expected from them. And the Governors must listen to their advice very carefully lest we continue with the past culture of anything goes.
When we kow-tow to the whims and timelines in Waste Management as dictated by the reactionary forces of the vested interest groups, we will never win the War on Garbage and Waste in Kenya. The War on Garbage and Waste cannot be won by bottling up knowledge, or by going it alone the way some Directors have behaved.
We must borrow from best practices and many examples abound. Rwanda has won the War on Garbage and Waste by encouraging everybody to be a player. Every 4th Saturday of the Month, everybody, and this includes even the President, join hands in Omuganda Day and this has ensured that every person becomes responsible with how you tend to your neighbourhood.
In Rwanda, the Directors of Environment never boast of the various Degrees they have. They show case their knowledge through action and as soon as you land in Kigali, you immediately realize that we have a Sheriff in Town- one who knows what Waste Management is all about.
They have perfected the art of public participation to an extent that every one feels guilty throwing anything down like we carelessly do.
In Gambia, human urine is in great demand and no one urinates carelessly like we do here in Kenya. Urine is bottled and sold out for conversion.  And someone ensures that this is done. In our case in Kenya, the implementing authority is by law given to the Director of Environment and he or she must ensure compliance and greater public participation.
We at The Clean Africa Campaign- http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com have been in the front line inviting Kenyans to actively participate in working for a Clean Kenya by 1st June 2013 as we celebrate our 50 Years of Independence. Now that we have Governors in charge of our Counties, we know this can be achieved if they overhaul the Teams watering the vested interests from their Counties. It is very simple; just cross check the performance of the various Directors of Environment and seek for answers. Like in Nairobi, can we be told what Kshs 40m being paid to contracted garbage truck owners does every month?
Why have we been unable to collect any waste from our streets and neighbourhoods even as we pay out Kshs 40m every Month for exactly this? Why have we been unable to convert waste in to wealth?
We all know that plastic- a major pollutant across the World, is a raw material for making fencing poles and more. Why are the Directors of Environment not engaging in public awareness campaigns to sensitize the various waste collectors about this?
We all know that if waste is separated at source, her premium increases. Why have the Directors of Environment never insisted on separation of waste at source as a first step to waste management?
We all know the value of paper, food remains, human feaces, urine and the other various waste streams. But as a people, we cannot enforce the laws on waste management. The buck stops with the Directors of Environment and their Teams. 
And in Kenya, these Teams have failed us. Why are they very slow in inviting Corporate Partnerships that can invest in the various Waste Streams? These are issues the Governors must address even as the vested interest groups dig in.
They have now shed their previous images and are busy trying to please the Governors with dead ideas- ideas that have never worked for Kenya in the past.
However, we at The Clean Africa Campaign are pleased with the performance of the Directors of Environment at Kisumu and Eldoret. They have taken a pro-active approach to Waste Management and they have even included public participation to help solve our perenial problem with waste and garbage.
In Kisumu, the Director and the People of Kisumu have formed KICOCEN- and every 3rd Saturday of the Month, they bring together many Teams in a Monthly Clean-up and Awareness Campaign.
Members of the Public joining in a Clean up and Awareness Campaign staged at Kondele in Kisumu in Partnership with the Kisunu City County and KICOCEN
In Eldoret, the Director of Environment and the People have formed Eldoret Green City Initiative and they are also jointly hosting Monthly Clean-up and Awareness Campaigns across Eldoret every 3rd Saturday of the Month.
These are positive interventions that we must uphold and appreciate. Kisumu is rapidly becoming the cleanest City in Kenya even as Nairobi grows deeper in filth. And this is the paradox of our times. We have faith that Machakos is on the right track and with an assertive Governor, the Town is in for major surprises and we are wishing them well.
We still have about 40 Days to Kenya celebrating our 50 years of Independence and we at The Clean Africa Campaign do firmly believe that within this time, we can at least remove the daily eye-sores from our midst in Nairobi. But it will need the direct intervention of the Governor because, the Director of Environment in Nairobi has proved grossly incompetent and unable to address the question of waste in the Capital City of Kenya.
We must invoke Polluter Pay Principle to address such carelessness. Each manufacturer can be made to join in keeping our Cities Clean
We need a Clean City and on this we will never relent. Even the Law is on our side;
Article 42 of our Constitution says this; Every person has the right to a clean and healthy environment...
Article 69 (1) The State shall-----(d) encourage public participation in the management, protection and conservation of the environment.

Then we are given room to seek for Judicial intervention when such rights are flaunted or infringed upon at Article 22 (1) and at Article 70 (1).

This is the Law and we are going to play our Public Oversight role with vigour and dedication as we invite all Kenyans to join with us in this Journey of Hope across Kenya.

Time for guesswork is over. We must roll our sleeves and clean our Towns and Cities.

Peace and blessings as we work for a Clean Kenya, a Clean Africa and a Better World.

Odhiambo T Oketch,

Executive Director,

The Clean Africa Campaign-TCAC.

Tel; +254 724 365 557

mailto:oto@kcdnkenya.org

http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com/

http://www.kcdnkenya.org

Supreme Court Ruling Petition No 5 of 2013

Supreme Court Opinion

Pumwani Majengo Clean up Campaign 27th April 2013

Dear Friends,

After a grueling 4 Months, when we gave way for the Campaign and Election Period, in partnership with the Nairobi City County, St John's Community Centre and Pygron, we will be hosting A Clean-up and Awareness Campaign on the 27th April 2013 as from 8.00am at Pumwani in Majengo.

We are all agreed that the question of Garbage and Waste has been with us for far too long and that with the election in to office of a new Team of County Managers, we have firm hopes and beliefs that our Governors will rise to the occasion and help Kenyans work for a Clean County.

A very familiar situation in Nairobi

We have agitated for proper waste handling and disposal technics and a lot of studies have been undertaken on garbage and waste in Kenya. An Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy for Nairobi has also been developed and still, waste and garbage clog our Cities and Towns.

All the knowledge we have on waste and garbage management is meaningless when it is all bottled up and confined to a few people as waste managers. It makes all sense when it is widely shared for the general good of all, and this is why we at The Clean Africa Campaign will keep all the Directors of Environment across Kenya on their toes.

The war on garbage will never be won by bottling up knowledge.

To this end, we have developed a work plan that will involve massive Awareness Campaigns in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Machakos, Nyeri, Meru, Nakuru, Kisii and Kakamega beginning this Month.

We will be joining with these Counties every 3rd Saturday of the Month for Clean-up and Awareness Campaigns and come September, we will host the inaugural inter-County assessments during the Kenya Environmentalist of the Year Award.  

We cannot live like this; this is Nairobi

We will be working with the County Governors and their Teams, our Partners, the Community Based Groups and the General Population in ensuring that we develop proper Waste Disposal and Handling Technics. This must start at the Household level where we will advance the Process of Separation of Waste at Source.

As we join forces in Pumwani Majengo on the 27th April 2013, we are inviting as many groups in the 10 Counties to join hands with us and our Partners as we work for Cleaner and Safer Towns and Cities.

Peace and blessings as we work for a Clean Kenya, a Clean Africa and a Better World.

Odhiambo T Oketch,

Executive Director,

The Clean Africa Campaign-TCAC.

Tel; +254 724 365 557

mailto:oto@kcdnkenya.org

http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com/

http://www.kcdnkenya.org

Wikileaks

https://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09NAIROBI1296_a.html

The Uhuru Kabinet- Dr James Mwangi

Friends,
As we wait for the appointment of the Uhuru Cabinet, it is time for reflections.
In 1964 when Kenya became a Republic, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta appointed a lean Cabinet of 20 men namely;

1. Hon. H.E.The Hon Mzee JomoKenyatta- President
2. Hon.A.Oginga-Odinga- Vice President
3. Hon J.D.Otiende, 
4. Hon Dr.W.Mungai, 
5. HonT.J.Mboya, 
6. Hon. E.N. Mwendwa, 
7. Hon. Dr.J.G. Kiano, 
8. Hon M. Koinange,
9. Hon P.Ngei, 
10. Hon L.G.Sagini, 
11. Hon J.A.Z.Murumbi, 
12. Hon B.R.Mckenzie D.S.O, D.F.C,MP, 
13. Hon D.T.Arap Moi, 
14. Hon C.Njonjo- Attorney General
15. Hon J.S.Gichuru, 
16. Hon R.Achieng Oneko,
17. Hon Mr. D.N.Ndegwa, 
18. Hon D.Mwanyumba, 
19. Hon S.O.Ayodo, 
20. Hon J.h.Angaine,
21. Hon W.M.Wamalwa

From this time on, Kenya witnessed some tremendous changes. The economy grew and life was comfortable. There were also some sad part of the history of the 1st Government, but that is not subject of this article.
In Nairobi, where I was born, life was easy and the Town was Clean. The Council staff then were very efficient. Nairobi was indeed a Green City in the Sun.Our Garbage was collected on schedule twice a week and all our Litter Bins were replaced the moment they started wearing off. As I went to Islamia Primary School, I never saw any garbage thrown by the road sides. Today, garbage is everywhere you turn and the people mandated to keep our Towns and Cities Clean are busy conferencing and studying waste and garbage. They are busy conniving with known cartels and their mission is to make hey when it lasts.  I want to believe that the Uhuru Cabinet will appoint a no nonsense Cabinet Secretary to oversee the question of Waste and Garbage that seems to be overwhelming this Team and ensure that Waste becomes a Resource.
This is Busis Road in Industrial Area in Nairobi
Public Transport was flowing and many of us liked boarding the Double Decker Buses that plied Route No 9 to Eastleigh. Traffic Jams were never witnessed. Vehicles were only stopped in the event President Kenyatta was in the vicinity of Landhies and Jogoo Roads. And the School Children would be made to line up waiting to wave at Mzee as he was driven by.
Later on, things started decaying bit by bit. Water that was freely flowing from our taps started missing from the taps and today, it is never there. It comes twice a week and it does not matter whether it rains or not. When it rains, water becomes a source of death and destruction. When it is not there, Electricity is rationed on account of low water at the Dams.
These are some of the paradoxes that Uhuru and his new Team will be facing.
There is something called Energy Regulatory Commission which is seriously messing everyone in Kenya other than themselves. This will be one body that will either be made to shape up or ship out. How can you adjust prices of fuel every month in a struggling economy? This is messing all households in Kenya just as it is messing the investors.
We all need to plan and budget for our fuel consumptions every year. And even the Government budgets for the year. But this monster of a body revels in adjusting prices as they please every month. Industries can hence not plan for their fuel consumption and long haul drivers cannot do the same as well. The Uhuru Team will have to address this issue and bring sanity to all.
Besides, we have the small issue of National Healing and Reconciliation. And this is one area the New Team will have to give greater attention. We are all hurting as a Country and we need to find some mechanisms of healing Kenya. Great efforts must be made at ensuring that communities live in respect of each other as we move forward. Let us not create an impression of one community being equal than any other community. We are all One People and when any of us wins, we all win. Let us celebrate our win and unity as One Big Kenyan Family.
Lastly, and this was the main gist of my writing today- Banking. In the 1990s, opening a Bank Account was such an issue. You had to have like Kshs 10,000.00 plus being introduced by two known people. The Banks were not friendly and there came a time that the major Banks even moved out of some major Towns on account of less business or insufficient deposits.
Then stepped in one brave man- James Mwangi. Equity Bank stepped in and moved to all those areas the major Banks were leaving. Equity Bank reduced the opening balance to Zero and even did away with the need for bringing Passport Photos as you open your Bank Account. The major Banks thought this was a passing cloud. But Major Mwangi soldiered on and soon, the major Banks were on the streets hawking their services at a time Dr Mwangi recalled all his Field Agents back to the Banking Halls.
He had made a major coup in the Banking Field and single handedly revolutionized the Banking Industry. The rest has been history.
Such are the kind of men Team Uhuru should go for. Men who see opportunities and move in, not men who give Travel Advisories. It will do Kenya a great deal to have Major Mwangi as our next Finance Secretary. He has my vote and my confidence.
I would also like another Major Mwangi- maybe, Odhiambo T Oketch being appointed to manage the question of Waste and Garbage in Kenya. Many Directors of Environment across the Land will have to seek asylum and ship out, for they have failed Kenya and made our Country Dirty and Filthy. Garbage and Filth covers every inch of open space you have in Nairobi and this must be addressed.

Garbage and Filth at every turn in Nairobi

Peace and blessings as we work for a Clean Kenya, a Clean Africa and a Better World as we celebrate our Silver Jubilee.

Odhiambo T Oketch,

Executive Director,

TEL; +254 724 365 557,

http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

The Clean Africa Campaign-TCAC.

Stakeholders Forum on Waste Management- 24th April 2013

Friends and Partners,

We will be hosting a Stakeholders Forum on Waste Management on the 24th April 2013 at the UNEP and so far the following Groups and Institutions have confirmed their participation;

1. The Nairobi City County
2. The Unep
3. The Clean Africa Campaign-TCAC
4. The World Vision Kenya
5. NEMA Nairobi County
6. Public Service Transformation Department
7. Kenya Association of Manufacturers
8. APSEA- The Association of Professional Societies in East Africa
9. Kisumu City County
10. Mesha Kenya- Media for Science, Health and Agriculture
11. Forsight Technologies Ltd
12. National Council of Churches of Kenya

Kenyans; eager and ready to join hands in working for a Clean Country

We are only enjoining the Corporates for this Forum and we are excited with the responses we are getting so far, because, we are all now agreed that we must put the question of Waste and Garbage at the right place.

Our engagements on the 24th April 2013 will surely set us on the right path even as we prepare for the official Launch of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy for Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

We are seeking to engage with Corporates who are major producers of the Municipal Waste that we are struggling with, and all such players are invited to join with us in this planning stage. We will then focus on quick wins for the Month of May in preparations for hosting our Silver Jubilee and the World Environment Day.

Peace and blessings as we work for a Clean Kenya, a Clean Africa and a Better World as we celebrate our Silver Jubilee.

Odhiambo T Oketch,

Executive Director,

The Clean Africa Campaign-TCAC.