Re-engineer the Youth Fund

Dear Friend --

When The Youth Enterprise Fund was established, many young people were very excited that for once their enterprises would thrive with the little support from Government. A number of enterprises have received the support but I believe the full potential of the fund has not been explored yet.

Then came the wrangles and now scandals rocking the fund. The aim for which the fund was created for has been lost. And that is where you come in.

This country needs a fully functioning Youth Fund that serves to lift the millions of youth out of poverty. This in turn will see thriving communities. The failure of the fund will not only affect the youth today, but the next generations to come. We have created the petition to re-engineer the fund so that it can serve its rightful purpose and that its managers are held accountable for the work they are hired to do.

Click on the link below and sign the petition today to help the Youth Fund overhauling. Call out other network members and young people to sign this petition that we believe will help us push the agenda forward. It will take only a few seconds of your time:

Public opinion is a powerful tool to make our leaders know what we feel about what is happening and this action will shift in the right direction. A majority of Young people in Kenya support a transparent and accountable Youth Fund, we can keep the pressure on Government in a constructive manner to act -- but this action depends on your support. We can't give up on the young people of Kenya.

If you support a re-engineering of the youth Fund, sign this petition today 

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/overhaul-the-kenya-youth-fund/

Thanks,

ED

Why Empty Election Pledges No Longer Thrive in the present day Political Kenya

On saturday 27th February, I took the day to travel to Kericho County and give moral support on behalf of The Fire Place to my friend Aaron Cheruiyot who is running for the Kericho County Senatorial seat that was left vacant after the appointment of Charles Keter into Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Energy.

This particular political duel has been characterized by intrigues and close to protest to the system yet it would have been easy to recapture the seat knowing that Rift Valley voted to a man for the Jubilee administration by the mere fact that one of their own, Hon. William Ruto is the deputy President of the Republic of Kenya. However the internal politics of the expansive rift valley have proved to haunt the same system that they voted for overwhelmingly. 

Seven rallies were covered in a meticulous manner. Others joining were the Deputy President and over 20 MP's including former legislators from different parts of the country. Others included the Governor for Kericho and Nandi and Senators from other counties in the Rift Valley. This is the kind of support one would assume is needed in politics to propel one to a mere political celebrity on the part of the 30 year old Aaron Cheruiyot. However something interesting has happened that has forced the Deputy President to ensure he does everything politically possible to convince the Kericho electorate to vote for the Jubilee Candidate.

The DP Arrives at a Rally in Gatarwet with Contender Aaron Cheruiyot on Saturday

The seven rallies were held in the following locations in the expansive county on Saturday 27th Feb:-

1. Lelach

2. Siongi

3. Gatarwet

4. Sosiot

5. Kiptome

6. Sigawet and

7. Soko Huru

During this campaign I learned a few lessons that I share in this article. It was an eye opener on what it takes to do political mobilization. The process is not easy. One has to work hard to crack the numbers. Once you declare, you become instant and constant property of the public and your private life becomes a public book. This has been the experience for my young friend Aaron. 

Aaron Cheruiyot making his case at the Rally

I also learned that the people are not stupid. When they elect you once, they expect you to deliver on the promises you make. Never allow outsiders to join you and give unfounded promises just to lure voters to your side.

Never say things blindly without thinking of the consequences of your speeches. The people have a long memory. When they realize you have been playing them, on your next bid, they can hold you hostage or even dump you however positive intentions you may have for them.

Times have changed when the electorate were naive and clueless, with education, free media, new media and all the technological advances, your plan, promises and if you use lies, will spread fast, and will be documented for future reference to hold you accountable.

I learnt that in politics it is a factor of the now and not then. Politicians can promise all they want but today's voter does not forget. The terrain is changing so fast and that naive electorate we knew is gone.

Any one running for office in future will need money, honesty and hard work to retain the seat.

That is what the people of Kericho are doing. They reminded the Deputy President that they haven't seen actions out of words that were promised in 2012. The DP has had to camp in the county, at some point to even apologize to the voters for delayed gratification based on campaign promises.

Some of the guests including Emmanuel Dennis and Charles Keter

If Aaron loses the Kericho seat, it will not be because he is a bad choice, in fact he is the best choice for the people of Kericho, but it will be a protest to the government for not delivering on its promises. If the people of Kericho choose Aaron for their next senator, they will not only have given the youth of Kenya a vote of confidence, it will also be a verdict that the youth can be trusted but also being tested on their maturity to lead. That maturity must come with accountability. Accountability not only on paper but in transforming our communities to reflect the development of the 21st century.

The choice is out there for the people of Kericho County.

Which brings me to my next point on the stupidity that comes with political choices. Should the people choose the wrong candidate just to protest the system or should the people make their choices based on the fact of the ability of the candidate? Why should the best candidate lose just because of protest to the system. What are the consequences of choosing a protest candidate at the expense of political protest? I will pen more upon the conclusion of the plebiscite in Kericho on Monday next week.

Photos Courtesy of Brian Emmanuel Inganga

When the Thief Whistle Blows Own Theft

A story is told of a young lady who was fond of stealing food from her mothers pot. To cover up for her theft she went to report to her mother that food was missing from the pot. Little did her mother know that the daughter was actually the one stealing the food. The mother would go ahead to ask the entire family who was behind the theft of the food. One day the daughter asked her little sister to help her in the scheme of stealing. Lttle did she know that the little sister would tell her to her mother as soon as the whole theft grew to a disaster. 

The story of Anne Waiguru and the missing NYS Millions in the wake of the revelation through an affidavit that places the former Cabinet Secretary right at the architectural design of the NYS Scandal. The story of Josephine Kabura is similar to the stories we heard during the Moi regime when instructions were given from ‘above’ for individuals to acquire and sign for huge financial transactions. If one would not tore the political disciplined line, they were surprised at the amounts of debts they had accumulated and had no one but themselves to blame for signing the documents.

Josephine Kabura in her affidavit, claims that she was the conduit under which Anne Waiguru masterminded the theft of the Sh791 Million from the National Youth Service. This is a story of a long term friendship that started way when Anne Waiguru was working at KDN. The mentioned of big names in the scheme and the meetings that were convened by Anne waiguru leaves little doubt that they actually happened. The most surprising factor in the whole Anne Waiguru issue is that she resigned citing health problems.

It is claimed in the affidavit that a lot of money changed hands in payment for the various individuals that were co-conspirators in the theft and when there were signs that the scandal would not pass the scrutiny of accountability that Anne Waiguru became a whistle blower in her own masterminded theft.

It is told that the NYS Director and PS in the Ministry of Devolution had to be sacrificed in order to make Anne Waiguru look clean and committed to fighting the graft in her Ministry.

In the hills of a political career of Anne Waiguru to become the next Nairobi governor, will she succeed or will this scandal be the beginning of the end of an illustrious career that Anne Waiguru claims to have had in public service?

Only time will tell.

See also 

List of companies awarded millions of Shillings by Anne Waiguru

EACC Clears Anne Waiguru off the NYS Scandal

I shared NYS Loot with Anne Waiguru

Raila Odinga mentions 6 Waiguru Sins in NYS Scandal

How Ben Gethi, 31, Spent Sh585 million NYS cash

21 Officers to face charges over NYS scandal - Capital News

Six Ways You Can Be Involved in #GES2015Kenya

July 23, 2015

The 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, onJuly 25-26. It will be the sixth annual gathering, which will convene more than 1,000 entrepreneurs at all stages of business development, business leaders, mentors, and high-level government officials.

Can’t go to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kenya? We’ve got you covered. As we prepare for the sixth annual GES, here are six ways you can be involved and participate in the conversation from anywhere in the world:

1. Watch live events online at GES2015.org and on Periscope.

Many of the sessions will be streamed live online or will be available for on-demand viewing after they conclude. President Barack Obama will address the Summit.  Other speakers will include singer and philanthropist Akon and the recently announced 2015 Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship.  Go to www.GES2015.org for the schedule of events.

Also, follow @StateDeptLive and others on Periscope to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Summit and engage with U.S. government participants, entrepreneurs, and investors.

2. Follow #GES2015Kenya and #GES2015.

Follow #GES2015Kenya and #GES2015 on Facebook and Twitter to join the conversation with those in Nairobi.  On Twitter, follow @GES2015Kenya, @WhiteHouse, @StateDept, @CommerceGov, @USEmbassyKenya, @EconEngage, @Stengel, and @AmbCathyRussell for event coverage and the latest highlights.

On Facebook, like the GES2015Kenya and ShareAmerica Facebook pages, where you will find information about the Summit and great stories about the journeys of successful entrepreneurs.  Also watch for coverage and updates from the White House, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Commerce on the United States’ support --through many initiatives and programs -- for entrepreneurs around the world.

3. View and share photos from the event.

The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi will be publishing photos to their Flickr pages.  Check these accounts out for behind-the-scenes coverage of GES!

4. Join a Facebook Chat on youth and entrepreneurship.

Women and youth entrepreneurs are a significant source of economic growth globally, yet they often face additional barriers in accessing services and resources to start and grow businesses.   That is why this year’s GES kicks off with a day dedicated to women and youth entrepreneurs. To address some of these issues, U.S. Special Advisor for Global Youth Issues Andy Rabens will answer your questions during a Facebook chat on July 23, 2015 at 2:00 PM UTC/10:00 AM EDT.Submit your questions now, and join the conversation on Thursday!

5. Connect with the 2015 Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE).

President Obama launched and established PAGE in April 2014, and the initiative is chaired by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.   As part of their commitment to entrepreneurship, PAGE members develop Signature Entrepreneurship Initiatives designed to inspire entrepreneurs, expand networks and global exposure of existing entrepreneurs, or increase deal-flow between investors and entrepreneurs.  They also participate in public events – like GES - and lend their voices and platforms to connect with entrepreneurs at home and abroad.

The following PAGE members will join Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in Kenya:

Steve Case, Chairman and CEO, Revolution, LLC
Brian Chesky, Co-Founder and CEO, Airbnb
Julie Hanna, Executive Chair of the Board, Kiva
Daymond John, Founder, FUBU and CEO, Shark Branding

6. Follow the 2015 GIST Tech-I Competition. 

You voted for your favorite finalists in the GIST Tech-I Competition, and they will head to GES 2015 where they will receive two days of intensive training in areas such as team building, go-to-market strategies, and financing.  This year’s 30 finalists represent 23 countries -- from Albania to Chile to Botswana. You can follow your favorite finalists, GIST, and Tech-I related activities at www.gistnetwork.org, and by following #StartTheSpark on social media.

Now, if you are attending GES in person, please share your insights!  Here’s how you can do so:

• Download the ‘GES 2015’ App for attendees. It is available in the apple store and the google play store to registered attendees and speakers.  Using the app, participants can engage one another, share photos, and have easy access to the conference agenda and other information.
• Tweet quotes and information from the various sessions you attend, and use hashtag #GES2015Kenya for remote audience followers.
• Solicit questions from remote followers, and pitch their questions to presenters.
• Share photos and videos to Instagram using #GES2015Kenya.

Although GES represents an incredible opportunity to bring together entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and a broad range of other actors, the conversation and effort surrounding global entrepreneurship is an ongoing one.

Creating connections that will help entrepreneurs succeed is important, and the State Department is working to promote entrepreneurship programs, such as new angel investment networks, delegations, and mentoring collaborations.  Visit www.state.gov/e, like the State Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Facebook page, and follow @EconEngage to find out more.

About the Author: Ashli Savoy serves as Managing Editor of DipNote. She is on detail to support the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kenya

 This blog originally appeared on DipNote, the U.S. Department of State's Official blog. 

New Alliance Launched to Examine Global Accelerators

July 24, 2015

$2.3 million committed to improving the effectiveness of accelerator programs through research and analysis

The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) and Emory University’s Social Enterprise @ Goizueta will announce the launch of the Global Accelerator Learning Initiative (GALI)—a first-time comprehensive market assessment and analysis of accelerators—at the Sixth Annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES). The announcement will be made by Randall Kempner, executive director of ANDE, during a moderated session on entrepreneurship on Saturday, July 25.

The partnership was created by U.S. Global Development Lab at the U.S. Agency for International Development, Omidyar Network, The Lemelson Foundation, and the Argidius Foundation to analyze the efficacy of accelerator programs. Although there are hundreds of accelerators that have been launched around the world, little research exists to understand early-stage acceleration and its effect on the companies accelerated, especially for small and growing businesses in emerging markets.

GALI builds upon the work done thus far by The Entrepreneurship Database program at Emory University (EDp) which has collected information on more than 3,500 enterprises and partnered with more than 60 accelerator programs to date. This public-private partnership has committed $2.3 million over three years to scale the program by collecting data on more than 10,000 firms globally.

“We’re delighted leaders from the academic, international development, and philanthropy worlds are coming together to take action and further strengthen business communities by ensuring careful investigation of and innovation for accelerator programs worldwide,” said Randall Kempner, executive director of ANDE.

Key questions that the partnership seeks to address for the sector include:

• Do accelerators actually accelerate growth of early ventures, attracting greater investments and increasing revenue for companies?
• What types of programs offered by accelerators have the highest impact on entrepreneurial success?
• What can we learn about the entrepreneurs who participate in accelerator programs?

As a result of GALI’s work, accelerator programs will have statistical data and market insight to better inform their own decision-making as they train the entrepreneurs who create the goods and services that benefit all sectors of society. This data will also be made available to researchers and practitioners for their own analyses. GALI hopes that this body of knowledge will provide greater understanding to all involved in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, from managers to policy makers.

For more information about GALI, please visit: www.andeglobal.org/accelerators.

The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) is a global network of organizations that propel entrepreneurship in emerging markets. ANDE members provide critical financial, educational, and business support services to small and growing businesses (SGBs) based on the conviction that SGBs will create jobs, stimulate long-term economic growth, and produce environmental and social benefits. Ultimately, ANDE believes that SGBs can help lift countries out of poverty. ANDE is part of the Aspen Institute, an educational and policy studies organization. For more information please visit www.andeglobal.org.

Social Enterprise @ Goizueta (SE@G) is an Academic Center within Emory University’s Goizueta Business School that applies business acumen and market-based solutions to achieve meaningful and enduring societal impacts. SE@G is home to The Entrepreneurship Database program at Emory University (EDp). The program works with entrepreneurship accelerator programs from around the world to gather data from their application process and then re-surveys all applicants at six month intervals. www.socialenterprise.emory.edu

For more information about the work of our GALI partners, please refer to:
U.S. Agency for International Development (http://www.usaid.gov/globaldevlab) Omidyar Network (https://www.omidyar.com)
The Lemelson Foundation (http://www.lemelson.org)
Argidius Foundation (http://www.argidius.com/en/default.asp) 

2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit Youth and Women Day

Press Release

2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit Youth and Women Day

Friday, July 24

The Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) Youth and Women Day will convene 150 established youth and women entrepreneurs along with investors, speakers, and leaders in the entrepreneurship space. The select group of youth and women entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to share their success stories, take part in skills trainings, participate in a pitch competition, and hear from dynamic speakers including hip hop artist Akon, world renowned chef José Andrés, Fubu Founder Daymond John, Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri, and UN Youth Envoy Ahmad Alhendawi.

These innovative entrepreneurs will be joined by high-level U.S. Government officials, including Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Administrator of the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet, Acting Administrator of USAID Alfonso Lenhardt, Ambassador at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine Russell, and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel. 

The GES Youth and Women Day is supported by the U.S. Government in partnership with the Government of Kenya and the Global Entrepreneurship Network.

BACKGROUND:

The 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit Youth and Women Day builds upon the successful 2014 GES Youth and Women day in Morocco, the Startup Global Youth Summit at GES 2013 in Malaysia, and previous youth and women-related GES events in Dubai, Istanbul, and Washington, D.C.

The day will provide emerging youth and women entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their existing businesses and opportunities to form productive relationships that will help to scale up their ventures.

- FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY -

Time: The opening plenary session will begin at approximately 8 AM Nairobi time, lasting until 9:45 AM.

Coverage: Limited capacity, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Call Time: Members of the media interested in covering the Opening Plenary should gather in the GES Press Filing Center no later than 7:15 AM.

Access: Heavy equipment (e.g. video cameras or tripods) must arrive to the GES Press Filing Center between 6:45 AM and 8:15 AM, or between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM on Friday, July 24. For all other/general access, the media shuttle will run continuously between the GES event site and the International School of Kenya approximately every 30 minutes, at the top and bottom of every hour.

Arrival: All media participants seeking access to the GES venue on Friday, July 24 – Sunday, July 26 must use the GES-provided media shuttle system, departing from the International School of Kenya. No individual may unilaterally arrive to the event site.

Required Credentials: All individuals must have GES accreditation to enter the shuttle system or the GES Press Filing Center.

Note:  Other media opportunities will be available throughout the day on Friday, July 24.  Additional media advisories will be forthcoming, and posted throughout the Press Filing Center.

The 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit - GES

Kenya will be hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in July of 2015. This is going to be a great opportunity for young people, entrepreneurs, businesses and the continent at large to converge and reconnect with global players in the enterprise field. President Obama has been on the fore front of this initiative and has elevated entrepreneurship to the forefront of the United States’ engagement agenda during a historic speech in Cairo in 2009. 

The first summit was hosted by the United States in 2010 in Washington, D.C., The GES has expanded to a global event that has been un-matched with the amount of will power coming from the participation and good will of global players. Other countries that have played host are the governments of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Morocco. 

The 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit comes to Nairobi, Kenya, on July 25-26. This becomes the sixth annual gathering of entrepreneurs at all stages of business development, business leaders, mentors, and high-level government officials. The established tradition demonstrates the U.S. Government’s continued commitment to fostering entrepreneurship around the world. In retrospect, this becomes a good platform to network, exchange ideas and connect with other global ventures that will catapult our African Businesses to the next level. 

Here is What President Obama had to say about the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 

This is also seen as an opportunity for African businesses to connect with the ventures that will infuse skill, finance and technical abilities so that business start ups and those that want to scale can be able to get the boost that they need to compete in the global market. It is also an opportunity for the global markets to get a taste and a sense of what Africa has to offer to the World. I believe, the potential for Africa has not been fully utilized and it is just a unique market that will overtake other players since the opportunities are still yet to be explored. As the old adage goes, lets make hay while the sun shines. The global enterprise sun, is shining on Africa. 

Interested to participate, here is the application form where to apply.