NATIONAL YOUTH SUMMIT (NYS) Western Bungoma Forum Brief Report

NATIONAL YOUTH SUMMIT (NYS)
Bungoma Forum
Brief Report
Date: 19th – 20th October 2012
Venue: Bungoma County Hall
Participants: 150 Young Accountable Leaders

Activity One:
The main county summit had a 150 Young Accountable Leaders (YAL) originating from all the counties within the western region of Kenya (Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga). It began with a brief explanation on what it means to brand a country through attitude change among the youth. This was well articulated by Brand Kenya Board, National Branding manager madam Rose Asimiwe.She largely emphasize on the need for young leaders to be proactively engage in matter pertaining to national building so as to position the country optimally in terms of investment, creditworthiness, tourism and international relations.



In the same vein, Mr. Emmanuel Dennis from National Youth sector Alliance (NYSA), agitated the youth to take lead in ensuring that the forth coming general elections in conducted peacefully without violence. He encouraged the youth to fully engaged to issues pertaining to national development and help vet leaders who seek various elective positions. He took the youth through a chronology of events that lead to the National youth Summit including goals and objectives.



This was followed by presentation on leadership by William from transform Kenya. He challenged the young leaders to vet themselves along the five Cs namely, CONCILLIATORY/ Peacemaker, CHARACTER, COMPETENCE, COMPELLING VISION, CARING. This was followed by a guided view on how to establish a culture of peace by Dr. Edwin Aketch. He encouraged the young leaders to gravitate their efforts for change within the vision of One Family under God.

In conclusion, the participants were taken through an inspirational story by a local achiever on matters of entrepreneurship. This was facilitated by Emmanuel Dennis which included the element of Community Action Cells building that would guarantee sustainability of the process beyond the summit for purposes of accountability.

Activity Two:
The sport component:
The second day of the summit was colored by two sports event, namely, soccer and volley ball. This event took place at the pan paper sports ground in Lugari constituency. The Teams were St. Augustine's Girls and Mautuma Secondary and  Soccer was Lugari United and Mautuma Combined.

The practice and the function of sporting activities was identified and recognized as a potential instrument for promoting peace in Kenya. The youth who attended appreciated the opportunity provided by the summit for them to be exposed and enhance talent. The teams battled it out and all the winners crowned.

Generational Change: Why the Youth have the Choice to Lose or Gain in 2013

Emmanuel Dennis

Our forefathers fought splendidly to untangle our country from the locutions of the Imperial rule. However it is wrong to be brainwashed that we got our independence from foreign masters. Kenya existed long before the white man arrived with a bible in one hand and a gun in the other. Kenyans co-existed harmoniously and independently through batter trade to appreciate the values of our diversity. When our forefathers recaptured the country's rule from the empirical Brits, they disregarded the reality that Kenya belongs to all of us. This is probably to the vexation of their minds through foreign education that perfected the white man's strategy of divide and rule.

The Uhuru Generation concentrated on enriching themselves at the expense of helpless communities. Impunity was engraved on the way Kenya was governed. The results are the current historical injustices that Kenya MUST deal with decisively without fear or favor.  One serious mistake happed; a hand over of the leadership baton to the post Uhuru generation. Today many generations are in a leadership jam.

Today we have stout sentiments that being youth alone is not a programmed ticket to Leadership. This is because, the James Orengo's of the Muungano wa Mageuzi ilk never got the opportunity to ascend to the apex of Kenya's Leadership.

The Kenyan youth aged below 35 constitute a massive 72% of the total population. A good number of this generation have trained their eyes on the leadership of Kenya to the 2013 plebiscite.

Political consciousness among young Kenyans is at its highest since independence.  However, the Political class has continued to isolate the Kenyan citizenry from the country's political decision making. Current MP's have united to protect their selfish interests at the expense of the new constitution. The mutilation of the Leadership and Integrity bill gives birth to the reality that the Executive and Legislature will do anything to marginalize the general public from protecting the constitutional provisions.

 

The current divisive politics hex trouble for the future of a nation that was declared the most optimistic after the coming into power of the NARC Government. It is no doubt that the youth population holds the deciding vote in the next election. The harsh reality is that there is a conspiratorial theory being schemed by political elites to continually marginalize them.

Apart from their numerical strength, the Kenyan youth are vibrant, ever changing, creative, innovative and extremely experimental among the generations of the African continent. To get the youths attention today, one requires an intimate connection strategically founded on knowledge, understanding, faith, trust and practicality.

Factual that the Kenyan youth are continually being relegated, misconstrued, and abandoned in the setup of the national agenda, there looms a ticking time bomb for the future of Kenya. A vicious political insurrection is inevitable if the youth remain in the current state.

When youth needs for mobility are systematically blocked, youth frustrations erupt and elites label young people as thugs, rioters, as spoiled or monstrous ingrates. This is a dangerous trend that Kenya and Africa should avoid at all costs.

Things may not change much, that is why young Kenyans need to begin to ask themselves critical question in connection to their roles in the coming election and make a decision whether they want to perpetuate the notion of the old and elite political class or they want to change things for the betterment of the present and future generations.

Utilising the numerical strength, the Kenyan youth MUST unite to foster patriotism, national unity and rule of law. The Youth of Kenya have the key to forcing good governance through their vote. The Kenyan youth have the decision of either going out there get registered as voters and force a generational change for Kenya in 2013.

The youth MUST consolidate into one holistic social, economic and political movement and showcase the might of their numbers. So if you are young and feel angered by the current impunity that has bedeviled Kenya since Independence, and perpetuated by the current leaders, roll up your sleeves, tighten your belt, pull up your socks and get ready to dirt up your boots. For the struggle for political and economic independence of the young generation will not be fought through whining and complaining.

 

The writer is the Director of the National Youth Sector Alliance and an International Youth Development Enthusiast.

Strategic Business Management

Dear friends---

SIDA is once again doing a business program for managers/people in Africa, public/private sector (small-to middle sized companies/organization). This is a very exciting program you might want to forward it to interesting people.

Please find the link http://bit.ly/RKGxjm for all the information and attachments.

Regards,

Emmanuel Dennis

Discrimination on Youth appointments in Government, Constitutional & Independent Offices

Tomorrow Tuesday the 4th September 2012 will mark exactly six months to
the next general election. A flurry of activities are preceding that day.
It is official count down to the biggest plebiscite probably all over
Africa, and most importantly in Kenya under the new constitution.

Just as a reminder, the next election will provide various opportunities
for the youth to be employed by government. The following vacancies will
be up for grabs in elective positions;

1,450 County Ward Representatives
290 Members of Parliament
47 Women Representatives
47 Senators
47 Governors
47 Deputy Governors
1 Deputy President
1 President

I have been encouraging young Kenyans to make sure they dominate the
County Representative positions because they will be the easiest to win
given the numbers of voters in the Wards.

Besides the elective positions, over 100 senior government officials have
resigned from their positions and will officially vacate office tomorrow.
This individuals will be putting their weight behind elective positions in
the next election.

It is a requirement under the new constitution and the Political Parties
Act that any Public Servant seeking for elective position must vacate
office six months to the elections. Technically one is supposed to be an
active member of a certain political party to vie on the ticket of the
party.

Besides the President, Prime Minister, and MPs all the Public Officers
and servants working in Government MUST resign and concentrate on the
political ambitions.

Many young people would have expected that they will get the opportunity
to apply and qualify for the positions being created in the spirit of
youth employment in Government. May be that dream is still too far from
being realized.

Given the notices provided to field those vacancies, there appears to be a
clear trend to marginalize young Kenyans from appointments to
constitutional bodies and independent offices even when they are fully
qualified for the appointment.

I was given a case of one fine Ms. Jacqueline Mbogo Asimuli who applied
for appointment for the position of member of the Independent Police
Oversight Authority. Jacqueline is a recognized expert in Police Reforms
with extensive experience within the field. Upon application for the
position, she qualified, was called for the interview and reportedly
received the highest score due to her in-depth knowledge of the subject
matter.
Unfortunately, Jacqueline was not appointed supposedly because she is a
young person aged 34 years.

To add salt to injury, the newly established Independent Oversight
Authority called Jacqueline to offer Training to the members of the
Authority which demonstrates that she was actually the most competent of
those who were interviewed for the position.

Young people demand that results of the interview for the independent
police oversight authority and other commissions that have appointed
members are made public and that the appointing authorities ensure that
young Kenyans are not discriminated from appointment on account of their
age.

The expectations from the young people of Kenya on the vacancies available
starting tomorrow be done in a transparent way in order not to
discriminate against age.

The advice to the young Kenyans is to ensure eternal vigilance on such
matters to ensure justice and fairness is applied when recruiting
qualified Kenyans on such plum positions. Otherwise we shall continue to
witness political cronies, relatives and friends being given this
positions based on their close proximity to the Political officers in the
recruiting Government agencies, and in other cases outright corruption
based on how much a bigger brown envelope one produces.

We are watching...
Emmanuel Dennis
National Youth Sector Alliance



--
Emmanuel Dennis Ngongo
National Youth Sector Alliance
2nd Floor, World Alliance of YMCA Building
State House Crescent, Off State House Avenue
P.O. Box 8799, 00200, Nairobi Kenya
Cell: +254722619005
www.nysa.co.ke


--
Posted By ED to The Future at 9/03/2012 12:16:00 AM

Youth appointments in Government, Constitutional & Independent Offices

Dear Friends---

Tomorrow Tuesday the 4th September 2012 will mark exactly six months to the next general election. A flurry of activities are preceding that day. It is official count down to the biggest plebiscite probably all over Africa, and most importantly in Kenya under the new constitution. 

Just as a reminder, the next election will provide various opportunities for the youth to be employed by government. The following vacancies will be up for grabs in elective positions;

1,450 County Ward Representatives
   290 Members of Parliament
     47 Women Representatives
     47 Senators
     47 Governors
     47 Deputy Governors
      1 Deputy President
      1 President

I have been encouraging young Kenyans to make sure they dominate the County Represenative positions because they will be the easiest to win given the numbers of voters in the Wards.

Besides the elective positions, over 100 senior government officials have resigned from their positions and will officially vacate office tomorrow. This individuals will be putting their weight behind elective positions in the next election.

It is a requirement under the new constitution and the Political Parties Act that any Public Servant seeking for elective position must vacate office six months to the elections. Technically one is supposed to be an active member of a certain political party to vie on the ticket of the party.

Besides the President, Prime Minister, and  MPs all the Public Officers and servants working in Government MUST resign and concentrate on the political ambitions.

Many young people would have expected that they will get the opportunity to apply and qualify for the positions being created in the spirit of youth employment in Government. May be that dream is still too far from being realized.

Given the notices provided to field those vacancies, there appears to be a clear trend to marginalize young kenyans from appointments to constitutional bodies and independent offices even when they are fully qualified for the appointment.

I was given a case of one fine Ms. Jacqueline Mbogo Asimuli who applied for appointment for the position of member of the Independent Police Oversight Authority. Jacqueline is a recognized expert in Police Reforms with extensive experience within the field. Upon application for the position, she qualified, was called for the interview and reportedly received the highest score due to her in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. 

Unfortunately, Jacqueline was not appointed supposedly because she is a young person aged 34 years.

To add salt to injury, the newly established Independent Oversight Authority called Jacqueline to offer Training to the members of the Authority which demonstrates that she was actually the most competent of those who were interviewed for the position.

Young people demand that results of the interview for the independent police oversight authority and other commissions that have appointed members are made public and that the appointing authorities ensure that young Kenyans are not discriminated from appointment on account of their age.

The expectations from the young people of Kenya on the vacancies available starting tomorrow be done in a transparent way in order not to discriminate against age.

The advice to the young Kenyans is to ensure eternal vigilance on such matters to ensure justice and fairness is applied when recruiting qualified Kenyans on such plum positions. Otherwise we shall continue to witness political cronies, relatives and frieds being given this positions based on their close proximity to the Political officers in the recruting Governement agencies, and in other cases outright corruption based on how much a bigger brown envelope one produces.

We are watching...

Emmanuel Dennis
National Youth Sector Alliance

--

Emmanuel Dennis Ngongo
National Youth Sector Alliance
2nd Floor, World Alliance of YMCA Building
State House Crescent, Off State House Avenue
P.O. Box 8799, 00200, Nairobi Kenya
Cell: +254722619005
www.nysa.co.ke

Your Next MP, Governor, Senator President, County and Women Representative may be a CRIMINAL

Why Your Next MP, Governor, Senator President, County and Women Representative may be a CRIMINAL

Nairobi: 26th August 2012

It is almost official, you can steal public funds, Murder someone, Rape, and be elected to public office. Members of Parliament have once more proved their selfish interests by enacting a law that will see their crooked and criminals selves gain entry into public office without scrutiny. They voted for a whittled Leadership and Integrity Bill as presented by Cabinet in a show of unity over impunity.

If ascended to by the President, Kenya is now headed to dangerous times where it will not be mandatory for aspiring leaders to declare their wealth, Vetted by professional agencies and publication of criminal cases.

This in essence means that the Kenyan public becomes the losers and a few individuals in the 10^th Parliament carry the day in entrenching impunity in a new system of governance. It remains to be seen if members of the public will now join hands and sue to stop the president from ascending to a bill that will water down the struggles to clean up the leadership of the country.

It should be noted that out of 100 MP's who were in the house only Hon. Baiya, Hon. Shabir, Hon. Karua Hon. Shebesh and Hon. Millie Odhiambo were in favour of the bill in its original form. The rest of the MP's have showed Kenyans that they don't care about the will of the public and true stakeholders of Chapter 6 of the constitution.

As a young person, I had hopes that Minister Eugine Wamalwa would stand by the people and especially the very many young Kenyans he claims to represent and firmly put in stringent measures of integrity. He has failed that test. He has disappointed and is now holding brief for the selfish interests of the people who are hell bent in making this country ruled by corrupt individuals.

If we move to court under a certificate of urgency, the President will be stopped from ascending to the bill until the court makes a constitutional interpretation with implications to the selfish wishes that the MPs have introduced in the bill.

However, in the same vein, the MPs still voted for the provision to vet the NSIS Chief and other Public Officers. The Political Class is applying double standards where they want to publicly vet judges, Public Officer including the Director General of NSIS but want to hide in their selfish selves not to be vetted by the same agency. DN Reference Story: MPs want Spy Agency Vetted: http://goo.gl/eCvxD

It remains to be seen if the people of Kenya will now stand up and defend the country from being led by Criminals or clean and integral people who must withstand the test of integrity.

Over the past week public pressure mounted to ensure Parliament does not pass the bill in its current form, but they have ignored the will of the people;

MPs Pass Tampered Integrity Bill: http://goo.gl/2mvou

Youth Condemn Integrity Bill Amendments: http://goo.gl/Tu5jg

Street Protests over Integrity Bill: http://goo.gl/sUDlx, and http://goo.gl/jr2R4

Minister Eugine Wamalwa Defends Watering Leadership and Integrity Bill: http://goo.gl/0bJRW

Leadership and Integrity Bill 2012: http://goo.gl/uPI4y

What will be your personal responsibility in protecting the Constitution from the selfish MPs who are on the lose to sell our country to Impunity?

 

Emmanuel Dennis

National Youth Sector Alliance

--

Emmanuel Dennis Ngongo
State House Crescent, Off State House Avenue
P.O. Box 8799, 00200, Nairobi Kenya
Cell: +254722619005
My Bio:http://www.emmanueldenis.blog.com/
Blog: http://emmanuel-ed.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Emmanueldennis
http://facebook.com/emmanuel.dennis
www.nysa.co.ke/ www.thegreenteams.org