Extracts from the Ambassador speech on KTI's role on reforms.

The United States is supporting activities valued at more than $3 million annually aimed at promoting reconciliation and mitigating future conflict. At the national level, this includes technical support to the National Steering Committee tasked with overseeing peace building and conflict management. At the grassroots level, we are working to strengthen institutions such as District Peace Committees, civil society groups, and networks of community leaders – including women and youth – that have been trained in conflict mitigation and resolution.

We are providing $1 million to support the ongoing process of constitutional reform, including providing technical assistance to the Committee of Experts for international legal expertise;
research, drafting, and mediation are available as required. In an effort to increase the voice of citizens, the United States is providing $1.5 million to civil society to support civic education about the constitutional reform process and upcoming referendum.

In November, we supported a National Youth Forum that took place in Nairobi. The Forum was organized by 66 independent youth organizations and brought together over 700 delegates from every constituency in the country. The Forum took place in the context of our continuing efforts to expand outreach to youth and to expand support for independent youth organizations as part of the broader process of propelling domestic-driven pressure for implementation of the reform agenda. One of the outcomes of the National Youth Forum was that youth leaders committed themselves to mobilize millions of young people to provide input into the ongoing constitutional review process, and to push peacefully for implementation of the reform agenda.

Earlier this month, we supported a delegation of youth leaders and activists who went to Washington and met with Members of Congress, think tanks, and key officials of the Obama Administration concerned about the slow pace of reform in Kenya. The message these youth leaders heard is the same as I have shared with you today: keep at it, work tirelessly and constructively for positive change, and you have our active and unwavering support!

Harmonized Draft Constitution of Kenya, 2009

The harmonized draft constitution of Kenya written by the Committee of Experts was released to the public on November 17, 2009 at KICC, so that the public could debate the document and then parliament can decide whether to subject it to a referendum in early 2010.
Proposed Changes
The key changes proposed were in the following areas:
• The Executive - who holds executive authority and the qualifications.
• The Legislature - the composition and representation of the people. An introduction of an upper house - the Senate.
• The Judiciary - qualifications to hold office and appointment.
• Devolution to the regions and counties
• Dual citizenship

The Executive
The executive at the top most levels will constitute a State President and a Prime Minister and Cabinet.
State President Key functions
• Head of State - largely be a ceremonial position.
• Commander-in-Chief - and will declare war and state emergency upon approval by the National Assembly and Cabinet respectively.
• Appoint the Prime Minister - The PM will be elected by the majority party in the National Assembly and the party will present a name to the President for appointment.
• Appoint - Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, their respective Deputies after they are nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Dismiss the Deputy Prime Minister or Cabinet Ministers upon consent from the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister key functions
• Head of Government - will yield executive authority and will co-ordinate and supervise all major sections of the executive branch.
• Nominate a Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, and their respective Deputies and present them to the President for appointment.
• Reside over Cabinet meetings.
• Advice the President on dismissals from the Cabinet.
NB: The State President will not be a member of the Cabinet and will not be capable of nominating persons to the Cabinet. He/she will not dismiss the DPM, Ministers without the consent of the PM.

The Legislature
The Legislative branch will constitute of the following
An upper house - the Senate
• Each of the 70 counties will be have a Senator
• A senator will be elected by their respective county assemblies acting as an electoral college and not directly by the voters.
• Each of the 8 regions will have 2 women Senators and
• Each region to have 1 Senator to represented persons with disability.
• Tentative total number of Senators will be 94.
A lower house - the National Assembly
• Each constituency (# of constituency to be determined by Independent Boundary Review Commission) - currently there are 222.
• Majority of the Members of National Assembly will be directly elected by voters
• Each county assembly will elect a woman MP - therefore guaranteeing a minimum of 70 women MP's in the National Assembly.
• Each region will elect 1 MP to represent persons with disability.
• Tentative total number of MP's will be 295.
Regional Assemblies
• Each of the 8 regions will regional assemblies - the regions are comparable to the current Province. The provincial administration will be abolished with the introduction of the new constitution.
• Each region will have a Regional Director elected by the county assemblies in the region acting as an electoral collage - An exemption will be for the Nairobi Region where the Regional Director - The Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be elected directly by the voters in Nairobi region.
County Assemblies
• The country will be divided to 70 counties - the county is comparable to the current District.
• Each county will have a county have a County Governor/Executive who will be elected by members of the county assembly acting as an electoral college. An exemption will be for the 4 counties in the Nairobi region which will not have County Governors.

The Judiciary
The setting up of an Independent Judiciary Service commission.

Devolution
Devolution of economic and legislative power to the regions and counties.

Dual Citizenship
Citizens are now allowed to hold citizenship in other countries.

NATIONAL YOUTH FORUM CONFERENCE

The National Youth Forum held on November 17, 2009 at KICC, drew 600 youth from all the 210 constituencies in the country,also happened to coincidentally collide with the day the harmonized draft constitution was being released by the Committee of Experts (CoE).

The Youth Forum Objectives were to;
1. Mobilize youth to define their role in the Reform process.
2. Organize grassroots networks of youth to demand for accountability and drive the reform agenda at the constituency level.
3. Sensitize youth on the peaceful civic activism and non-violent articulation of grievances.
4. Develop a common plan of action on youth engagement in the reform process.

The National Youth Forum was a success.Youth from all over the country representing different sectors and interests came for the forum and were duly represented. The youth see NYF as a as a beginning, not an end. They feel that they count, that they matter and that there is, finally, a platform for them to participate in the reform process

The following are some of the direct messages received from the delegates of the National Youth Forum:

"Thanks for the opportunity you gave us to attend the national youth forum. It was worth the price. We look forward to utilizing ideas learnt. How do I access a copy of the draft constitution? We were supposed to get a copy yesterday, but we left before they arrived, please advice." Emilio Pondi, Khwisero

"Good morning W. Mbatia. Let me know if you are in Youth Agenda? Curiosity, want to know how to network with you people." Councilor Mutinda.

"Youths confessed that was the most organized, objective, participatory with promising goals to action and results. You spoke and moved me like never before" Lenny, Runyenjes- pre conference delegate.

"The forum was superb. Congrats and Kudos".

"Thanks a lot. I learnt a lot and would like to be part of people making the reforms, leaving the power sharing to 'them'! I am most interested in health and gender equality. If you get more than 1 draft copy please gives me to read and talk over with my classmates." Catherine Watare

"Thanks for the chance to attend the forum. I am proud to be associated with it."

Note of appreciation by Supportive Hearts International

Supportive Hearts International Athletes jubliant after receiving Prizes


Greetings and Congratulations to all USAID/KTI and SHI Staff.

Our Athletes have been given the Best rewards and honor in the world this year.
Henry Kiprono Kirwa (Paralympics) is now confirmed as on 26th October 2009, as the Justice Ambassador to UNDP.
He is also being nominated as the best athlete (Sportsman Of The Year - SOYA 2009) of the year.

The Marathon Coach, Francis Bowen won in the Seoul, Korea, Marathon race last week.
On the other hand David Kipkogei Kiptum, the best Deaflympic (double Gold Medalist) of the year has been nominated to the panelists of SOYA Awards.

We are requesting USAID/KTI team to help us nominate Kipkogei (Deaflympics) for the post of good will Ambassador of Post Election PEACE into the UN bodies like the others.
It has been a great year of hard work and success to both USAID/KTI and SHI.
Many local leaders and K-Rep Bank have given us invitation to receive our athletes into their homes and institutions.
Usain Bolt will be with us here in Eldoret on 2nd November 2009.


Thank you USAID/KTI for the great support up to now.

 

James Kandagor.

 

Rob Jenkins visit to Kenya

USAID/OTI, Amanda's Visit

OTI's contracting officer Amanda Downing visited OTI's, Kenya program from the 18-27october.

Pictures from her visit

SOTIK MEETINGS

Moving from peace building to reforms, how do we make progress?

Cohesion is necessary to move forward, we must all acknowledge that we may not agree on all the changes in the draft constitution is going to bring,the point however is to agree on what is going to work for us, to bring some of the change we have been yearning for.

points brought up in the series of meetings held in SOTIK;

The DRAFT Constitution is a step forward.
Peace without REFORMS is impossible.
Matters affecting the country are historical from the 1885 scramble and partition of Africa.


"Politician’s buy us and we are bought, then we later protest that the Politician’s are not doing anything for us. The Politician’s in turn are not bothered as they have already bought us... we must stand up and not be coerced or bought.
We as Kenyans should know what we want." (John Koech)