The Zimmerman Consultative Forum

Friends,
We hosted The Zimmerman Consultative Forum today at Zimmerman at 10am in an even that was attended by 97 leaders from the area led by Cllr Kinoti, area Councilor, Mr. Romano Mikigu- area Chief, Mr. Samson Kaindi- area Assistant Chief, Ms Rose Kunga- Area Divisional Environment Officer, members of the District Peace Committee and many more.
Area Ass Chief Mr. Kaindi, Odhiambo T Oketch- in Green, Mr Peter Mbol of KCDN in white and area leaders just before the Forum
The Forum was a build up activity for our first Clean up activity this year under the auspices of A Litter Less Kenya at 50 which we will host at Zimmerman on the 21st January 2012 from 7.00am.
The Consultative Forums are a precursor to The Clean-up Campaigns and during these meetings, we mobilize and sensitize the invited leaders on 3 Thematic Areas namely;

1. Environmental Management- where we invited the leaders present to be our agents on the ground in helping to sensitize Kenyans that a Clean Kenya Starts with Me. We invited the people to take personal charge of how we dispose of our waste. The sentiments were also echoed by Cllr Kinoti and Chief Mikigu. Cllr Kinoti indicated that soon, we will be seeing Kenyans fighting over waste- ati- mbona ume iba taka yangu. This was in confirmation to the concept of waste is wealth, where we want to see Waste Handlers paying for our waste which we have sorted out at home.
2. Peace Building- where we invited Kenyans to maintain peace amongst ourselves at all times. We agreed that we can vote differently and still be One Family Under God as Kenyans. We invited Kenyans not to fight each other because of politics, resources or clannish issues. God in His magnanimity gave us Kenya and we must be proud being Kenyans. 
3. Good Governance- We noted that next year, Kenya will be celebrating her 50th Birth day and asked ourselves to soul search and see if we have anything that makes us proud of this milestone. We have voted faithfully every 5 years and what are the achievements that we can bank. We hence decided that we will look at leaders from the prism of Chapter 6 of our Constitution and vote for only those who merit our expectations on Integrity and Ethical Values. Time has come when we must isolate leadership from the chaff. We must identify leaders from all those who will present themselves and vote for them regardless of how wealthy they are or they political loyalty. Political Parties are vehicles through which power is won, but the trodden path had proved to us that voting 3 piece has entrenched democratic dictatorship and this has ended giving us Journeymen for leaders.

They then become our Goodwill Ambassodors on the same across Kenya.

Odhiambo T Oketch, Cllr Kinoti and Ms Rose Kunga during the Forum

We must thank all those who made the meeting of today a success. We must thank Ms Irene Wasike, Dr Abraham Korir Sibg'oei, Mr. Lameck Siage- all of KCDN, Mr. Ben Nyamweya, Mr. Hezbon Omondi and Cllr Kinoti for their financial support during the mobilization period and even for the hosting of the Forum today.
We must thank the Provincial Administration, the City Council of Nairobi, the many Civic Society Organizations and the local leaders for turning out in large numbers to be with us today.

Section of the participants during the Forum

Lastly, we must thank the KCDN Team, Paul, Dorothy and Anthony for ensuring that today was a success.
Let us roll our sleevs and meet at Base Stage at Zimmerman on the 21st January 2012 at 7am and move to the trenches as a team.
The Litter Bin Programmes launch by Dr Alice Kaudia- Environment Secretary- Ministry of Environment and Mineral resources.
A Clean and Litter Less Kenya at 50 is possible. Just do your part.
Peace and blessings,

Odhiambo T Oketch,

CEO KCDN Kenya,

National Coordinator- The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign

Tel; 0724 365 557,

Email; oto@kcdnkenya.org, komarockswatch@yahoo.com

Website; www.kcdnkenya.org

Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

President Museveni gives the Clean-up Order in Kampala

Friends,
It is amazing how the Clean-up wave is spreading across East Africa.
President Yoweri Museveni has ordered for the prompt arrest of all those found littering in Kampala or depositing garbage in a careless manner. He has ordered all security agencies to be on the look out and act appropriately.
We at KCDN must commend President Museveni for this action. Kampala will now join the growing list of Clean-Towns in East Africa where Kigali and Mwanza have been setting the trends. In Kenya, we are inviting the people to make a clear resolve and come 2013 as Kenya celebrates her 50 Years of Independence, let all our Towns across Kenya be Litter and Garbage Free.
We will engage in a campaign dubbed; A Litter Less Kenya at 50. Please join us in this drive.
We can do it and a Clean Kenya is very possible.

Residents join in the Clean-up Campaign during the official launch of the 2nd Circle of The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign by the PC Nairobi Mr. Ndirangu Njoroge at Hurumu Estate on the 22nd Oct 2011

On the 21st January 2012, we will be hosting the 1st Clean-up Campaign for 2012 across the whole country and we are inviting all those who believe that a Clean Kenya is possible to turn out and clean their immediate neighbourhoods.
It does not matter where you are on that day. Please make sure that you make your immediate surroundings clean. Let us also resolve that we will work towards ridding the Country of wanton Litter and Garbage that is blackening our image as a Country.
On Thursday the 12th Jan 2012, in the company of area Councilor Mr. Kinoti, area Assistant Chief Mr. Kahindi, City Council of Nairobi Officers and Friends of KCDN, we will be hosting a Consultative Forum in Zimmerman Estate at Mirema Hall, next to the Co-op Bank at 10am to sensitize and mobilize the residents of Zimmerman towards the Clean-up Campaign scheduled for the 21st Jan in the area.
All Youth Groups, Women Groups and Community Based Organizations working in Zimmerman are invited.

A Clean Kenya is Possible and it Starts with Me.

Let us all join in this Journey of Hope across Kenya.
Peace and blessings and Happy New Year.

Odhiambo T Oketch,

CEO KCDN Kenya,

National Coordinator- The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign

Tel; 0724 365 557,

Email; oto@kcdnkenya.org, komarockswatch@yahoo.com

Website; www.kcdnkenya.org

Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

Litterless Kenya Campaign

Next year, Kenya will be celebrating 50 Years of Independence and what do we have to show case for our 50 Years?
We have lost time and wasted resources. We have fought each other and killed some Kenyans in the process. We have looted our own economy and we are playing with the education of our Children.
50 Years down the line, we are still experimenting with various Education Systems, yet, this is something so crucial for the development of the Kenyan Child. I bet, it is time to remove these rudderless Professors and bring back people like Samuel Ayodo and Taita Towett who steered the Education system so well, yet, they were no Professors.At KCDN, we have resolved to do something that Kenya can be proud of; to work for a Litterless Kenya by 2013. To achieve this feat, we have managed to assemble very creative Partnership.
It is important to invite Kenyans from across the Country to join in and do their part. A Clean Kenya truly starts with me. My resolve never to litter and throw garbage anyhow. My resolve not to engage in acts that compromise the Constitution. My resolve not to elect rudderless and vision less leaders.
This will be very critical this Year. We must rise up as a Country and confront the many ills that we have failed to achieve in the last 50 Years. It beats logic when one says that they want to phase out paper communication from Government offices and then puts a time tag of 5 Years.
5 Years is 60 Months.
The order should have been simple; from today, the Government will start corresponding on online. Period. We then use the 60 Months period to back up past correspondences and paperwork that need being mainstreamed online.
As we start this Journey of Hope to being 50 Years old, let us resolve to fight tribalism, corruption and inept leadership from amongst us.
Let us resolve to love our neighbours despite their tribal, religious, or political persuasion.
Let us resolve to vote in men and women who love Kenya; who have a vision for Kenya.
And let all those who have failed Kenya in the past commit suicide and be done with. It will be too shameful to have you around as we celebrate the Kenyan success at 50.
Peace and blessings to all Gods Bits of Wood.

Oto

Happy New Year to all

Dear Friends,

With the support of the Public Service Transformation Department, the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development, Kepsa, Akiba Uhaki Foundation and other willing Partners, we are launching our campaigns for a clean Kenya tomorrow when we will be hosting a team of women leaders at Lunga Lunga in Industrial Area for an awareness campaign on separation of waste at source.

We will also be hosting a Consultative Meeting on the 10th Jan 2012 with our Strategic Partners and we have requested the PSTD to host us at their Boardroom at 10am. During this meeting, apart from reviewing our Work Plan, we will set up a Team that will help drive The 2nd Circle of The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign.

We are all agreed that a Clean Kenya is possible and we definitely have no reason not to achieve this.

Our Campaigns starts tomorrow at Lunga Lunga Estate in Nairobi where we will be discussing with women leaders about separation of waste at source as we gear up for our 1st Clean-up Event on Saturday the 7th Jan.

We have a tough campaign this Year, and just like you did support us last Year, we are once more banking on your support. This Year will be very different though because, many organizations are going to come on board as our partners in The Litter Bins Programme.

This is going to be an expensive but exciting campaign. We want to invite your support and participation. We are very pleased with the various Local Authorities that we have engaged with so far. We have seen commitment,  interest and the drive they have to help make this campaign a success. We have also noted their various limitations and, it is in our interest as a country to lean on each other and make this campaign a success.

We do not want to fault find and apportion blames. We want to work as a team looking forward into the future in this Journey of Hope across Kenya.

Peace and blessings to ye all.

Odhiambo T Oketch

A Clean Kenya Starts With Me

This is the kind of Kenya we have been fighting for; http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-51356.0.html

A Clean Kenya Starts With Me.

Oto

Dr Kaudia Launches The Litter Bins Programme in Kenya

The Environment Secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources Dr. Alice A Kaudia today officially Launched The Litter Bin Programme at Harambee Ward in Prudential/Buru Buru Estate.
The Official Plaque for the Official Launch of The Litter Bins Programme by Dr Alice A Kaudia
This is our proverbial journey of a thousand miles that starts with the first steps.
In her address to the volunteers, she stressed on the need of voluntary service noting that the question of garbage and litter cannot be left to the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources and the Local Authorities alone. Giving the toll free number for the Ministry- 0800 636 200, she invited Kenyans to plant exotic and indigenous and inter pass the same with Fruit Trees as they engage with the Ministry on matters Environmental at any time. This will be of great educational value to our children as they grow up because they will be able to associate which trees with which fruits.
Dr Kaudia admires vegetation at Prudential Estate
She was full of praise of Prudential Estate and commended the residents for setting standards of cleanliness which other Kenyans should and must emulate.
In launching The Litter Bin Programme, Dr Kaudia appreciated the efforts KCDN have put in The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign and conveyed the Ministry's satisfaction with the efforts that have been put in place so far. She said the Ministry will join hands and ensure that together with other willing partners, we are able to place 3,500 Litter Bins across Nairobi, 2,000 in Mombasa, 2,000 in Eldoret, 2,000 in Kisumu, 2,000 in Nyeri, 2,000 in Kakamega and 1,000 in Rongo as a pilot scheme on Litter management in Kenya in the coming year.
She proposed gasification as a means to generating electricity as a form of  waste management. This process can make us generate our own electricity from the waste we generate.
Some of the Participants
The Official Launch was also attended by Cllr Kimemia of Harambee Ward, Cllr Mbatia of Uhuru Ward, Mr. Ben Mwaniki- Chairman Prudential Estate Welfare Association, Mr. John Odhiambo- Chairman Buru Buru Residents Welfare Association, Eng Virginia Gichere Chairlady Eastlands Business Association, Mr. Gabriel Omondi- As Assistant Director of Environment at The City Council of Nairobi, City Council of Nairobi employees, Unity College Students, NPC Buru Buru, Viwandani Group, Wacky Women Group, a few residents and the KCDN Team.
Sam Mugweru of KCDN, Odhiambo T Oketch and Dr Kaudia during the event
Cllr Kimemia invited the KCDN Team to engage the politicians more in The Clean-up Activities as we approach the next Elections so that we can all share our experiences as One Family Under God.
At KCDN, even as we close the year, we want to appreciate the following Teams who have made this year so successful for us;

1. Public Service Transformation Department at the OPM
2. Greening Kenya Initiative at the OPM
3. The Office of The Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Local Government which has enabled us to work closely with The City Council of Nairobi, The Municipal Council of Mombasa, the Municipal Council of Eldoret, The Municipal Council of Kisii, The Municipal Council of Kisumu, the Municipal Council of Kakamega, the Municipal Council of Nyeri and the Municipal Council of Naivasha.
4. The Ministry of State for Internal Security and Provincial Administration
5. The Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development
6. Akiba Uhaki Foundation
7. A Better World
8. Phoenix Aviation Ltd
9. Green Fingers International
10. Kepsa
11. Mugumo Communications Ltd
12. The Friends of KCDN
13. and the following teams;  Support to KCDN from January 2011 to August 2011

It has not been an easy affair mobilizing Kenyans to the trenches. But because of the support you guys have given us in the ending year, we want to believe that we have done some good work with that support.
At KCDN, we have deliberately refused to follow the tired path of the Civil Society where organizations respond to any Call for Proposal.
Odhiambo T Oketch, Cllr Kimemia, Dr Kaudia and Mr. Sam Mugweru of KCDN
We realized that Kenyans can solve our own problems and as such, we chose to deal with Kenyans in driving The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign, where we drive thre Thematic Areas namely;

1. Environmental Management- where we mobilize Kenyans into action,
2. Peace Building- where we discuss with Kenyans issues that unite us as One People Under God and
3. Good Governance- where we discuss with the people what ails Kenya.

Kenyans have not disappointed and to this extent, as we launch The Litter Bins Programme, we will work closely with our Partners and Friends of KCDN to make this drive a huge success, and come this time next year, we will be talking different stories; a Clean Kenya shall have been Born.
Lastly, we want to initiate a Massive Awareness Campaign targeting Separation of Waste at Source in the coming year. We will be working with The Government and willing Partners led by Kepsa in this drive and we want to let Kenyans know that waste is wealth. It is hence in our own interest that we should separate waste at source and sell our waste to the Recyclers in an organized manner. The era of dumping waste is gone. We must start managing our waste.
We hence end by inviting all those who have an idea on turning waste into wealth to get in touch with us. We are on a mission and a Clean Kenya is our destination. Indeed, a Clean Kenya is Possible and it Starts With Me.
Why don't you guys have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Odhiambo T Oketch
CEO KCDN Kenya.

Writing History of Failures; the new generation

Dear Friends,
History is a very sweet subject, because it records happenings on a daily basis and at some point in time, a future generation can look to the past and decide on what they must do with their time. History might want to brand them as failures or, transformers.
In driving The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign, we have had occasion to also record history as it unfolds in our own time. Someone will one day visit our website- www.kcdnkenya.org and our blogspot- http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com and confirm what we were able to do with our time during our sojourn in the present world.
The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign is a clear Transformation Process that is Branding Kenya to the Vision 2030. We are happy that in seeking partnership, we have found men and women in Kenya, people who are faithful to their calling. They are determined to make Kenya different.
In this lot we have His Excellency the President Mzee Mwai Kibaki, the Right Honourable Prime Minister Raila Odinga and their current Team. During their watch, we have seen great Transformation in the Public Service, in the Judiciary, in the Legislature, and we have witnessed the birth of a new Constitution. We are seeing great Transformation in the Road Sector and many things are looking up. We must applaud them for their positive leadership.
However, we must also encourage them to address issues of the economy that are failing to add up. They must look at some pedestrians who are keen on subverting the implementation of the new Constitution and they must cushion Kenyans against the run away inflation that is currently breaking families and tearing into the matrimonial harmony.
We also have the Public Service Transformation Department that has made tremendous efforts at streamlining Service Delivery within the Public Sector. We must applaud these men and women who are committed to Transforming Kenya by ensuring that we get it right this time around. We are proud that the PSTD is a Key Partner with KCDN in The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign.
The Ministry of Environment and Mineral resources is another area where we have men and women who are committed to writing a just history for Kenya. We have all seen what they have done with the Nairobi River. No one ever believed that such a feat could be achieved in our own life times- but there it is, achieved by our own brothers and sisters in the Ministry. We are happy that the Ministry is our Key Partner in The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Development Ministry has made tremendous efforts at refurbishing machinery within the Metropolis by purchasing new fire fighting machinery, ambulances, working tools and they have since September 2009 been mobilizing for a Monthly Clean-up Exercise. We are happy to have men and women in this Ministry who are recording some positive history for Kenya and we are happy that they are our Key Partners in The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Local Government has played a key role in shaping the history of The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign. With their support, we have been able to partner with the Municipal Council of Mombasa, the Municipal Council of Eldoret, the Municipal Council of Kisii, the Municipal Council of Kisumu, the Municipal Council of Kakamega and the Municipal Council of Nyeri in The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaigns. We are optimistic that all these Councils are burning the candle and driving The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign forward. They have written some just history of progress.
The City Council of Nairobi has many challenges that it must surmount. And we must appreciate the little they have done in keeping the CBD very clean. A walk across the CBD will vindicate this claim and as a people, we need to join them as they struggle to write history that will inspire the future generation. They are our Key Partners in The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign having mobilized themselves for the Monthly Clean-up every 3rd Saturday of the Month.
The Ministry of State for Internal Security and Provincial Administration have played a very crucial part in our mobilization process across Kenya. And in this Ministry, we have public servants who believe that a Clean and Safe Kenya is possible, and we appreciate your partnership.
Now, as we appreciate all this makers of history, we also have a different breed of Makers of History, those who do nothing, yet, they have all the needed wherewithal. The first culprits in this category of failures are our Road Maintenance Crews. A drive across some roads in Nairobi and in Kenya will make you think that you are in the Garden of Gethsemane. Pray on Earth, why must we let our roads dilapidate to levels where they become death traps for Kenyans, and yet, we have Provincial Road Engineers, District Road Engineers and even Divisional Road Engineers.
These are people who must be placed on Personal Performance Contracts to ascertain what they do on a daily basis. The new Kenya must be harsh with them and we must demand equal service commensurate with the salaries we are giving them. They must not sleep on the job.
The next category of people who are failing Kenyans are Architects and those in the Building Profession. Why on Earth must we build narrow sky crappers for our people against all the laid down building codes? We have houses that rise to the 8th Floor and yet, they are not fitted with Lifts as the law requires. Their staircases are so narrow that a person staying on the 8th Floor must rope his stools by the side opening simply because the staircase cannot allow stools to go through. As Kenya is moving forward, our Architects and those in the Building Profession are writing for us that history of failures which we can do without.
You will all agree with me that we have no Drain Maintenance Experts in Kenya. All the ones we have currently are fake, for even simple down pour in Nairobi, is a sure disaster. Those who are building our roads are very surprising; they build drainage systems that head nowhere when  it rains. They are writing for us some very wrong history; that no drainage system works. And they believe in that. They are a breed we can do without.
Fire Fighting Experts; the little said about this team the better. I have never seen any fire that they have put out. All the fires that I have seen have burnt everything to the ground as this team struggles with machinery that run out of water the moment they arrive on site. They are giving us some wrong history and it is a blemish we can do without.
School Curriculum Developers;  I just do not know what became of our education system. These breed of Kenyans realized that they can play on the intelligence of Kenyans by changing the set books every term, just to ensure that the sub standard books written by their friends are enlisted as education material in Kenya. The results are there for all to see; we are producing robots whose spoken and written English leaves a lot to be desired. We are producing a generation that does not know that trousers are belted at the waist, not in the lower buttocks. This breed of Kenya is writing for us some wrong history.
There are many more examples of Kenyans writing History of Failures and as a people, we can all rally together and stand united in Transforming Kenya. The good thing is, we have laid the foundation for a successful Kenya by voting for a new Constitution. Let us stand up and demand for Service Delivery from all our key institution. Let us stand up and join hands in doing what must be done.
We have lost 48 years of our Independence to ineptitude and impunity and in the new Kenya, we have opportunities for atoning for our past failures as a Nation and starting afresh. It is only by starting afresh will we Transform Kenya, Brand Kenya and realize Vision 2030.

Odhiambo T Oketch
www.kcdnkenya.org
http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com