THE UONGOZI CAMPAIGN.

I have said before on this site, and would wish to reiterate that; a better and brighter future surely lies ahead for Kenyans if they take up the initiative to make wise and informed decisions while voting for leaders. I was really elated to learn about the noble UONGOZI campaign, an initiative that seeks to have Kenyans, as Sammy Wambua puts it, break away from a past that saddles them with questionable leadership and the resultant ills. UONGOZI is a Swahili word meaning LEADERSHIP.

CEO's Linus Gitahi of Nation Media Group and John Githongo of Inuka Kenya flag off the campaign.

The campaign, which is intended to engage Kenyans from all walks of life has its slogan as ‘’Ni Sisi!’’ translated to mean “It is Us!”. It is up to the Kenyan people to address the problems facing their nation. And what better way to do this than to start by voting in credible leaders in the upcoming elections? This means that it is up to every Kenyan to value their vote and the positive input they would contribute towards nation building.

UONGOZI seeks to invoke a frank conversation among Kenyans, which will revolve around past occurrences and experiences. It will also be a platform where the citizens can ask straightforward questions, especially those that matter most in their lives. It is from these critical questions that voters will then be motivated to vote in candidates that offer the best answers to the questions. This of course will bring about plausible solutions as opposed to voting along tribal or regional lines while neglecting the main issues.

Then here is yet another exciting twist in the campaign, and which brings a smile to my face! The campaign, which will tour the whole country, will culminate in the selection of individuals who believe they could lead Kenya to a better future. The selected individuals will be engaged in a televised debate on how to deal with the various issues facing the country, and what’s more, the programme is scheduled to run till election time. That way, Kenyans will have all the necessary information to help them make the all important decision!

The UONGOZI logo.

Behind this very noble campaign is the USAID, under the democracy and governance program, DFID (UKAID) the government of Japan in conjunction with the UNDP, the embassy of Switzerland in Kenya and the Nation Media Group. It is also in partnership with the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission), POSTA Kenya, AISEIC, YWCA and the Yes Youth Can Network.

“Real change is all about us and the choices we make, and actions we take as Kenyans”, says John Githongo, the CEO of Inuka Kenya Ltd, and I couldn’t agree more. I urge every Kenyan voter to take time and think about the immense power that their vote wields. That vote could change the life of every citizen for the better if and only if it is put to its best use; voting in credible leaders, who have development track records, no involvement in fraud or other integrity issues and most importantly, capable of uniting all kenyans as opposed to tribal consolidation. 

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE!!

THE SHAME OF KENYA.

Kenyans, I’m certain, have long lost count of the number of times that the country’s workforces have downed their respective tools of trade. Go slows, industrial actions and crippling strikes are seemingly the only lingo that the government of the day comprehends. Not surprisingly, the country’s economy and citizenry have had to pay the ultimate price and how the two still continue to stay afloat can only, in my opinion, be purely an act of God.

Striking teachers in Kenya hold demonstrations.

Almost every awfully important workforce you can name has had their day. Talk of teachers, those at the primary and secondary school levels. As a matter of fact, they are on strike as I write this article. Then there’re the University lecturers, who’ve recently joined the band wagon and have a history in that chapter as it were. If this next group does not send a chill down your spine; my bad! Doctors and medical staff; can you believe that?! And before you recover from that shock, add public service vehicle operators to the list.

The Medical personnel strike in Kenya in the recent past.

The principal motivation behind these most unfortunate eventualities is what the workforces’ term as “insultingly low pay packages”. They claim the government has since ceased to willingly do what is right until its personnel push it up the wall. On their part, public service vehicle operators cite harassment by police officers and rogue youth groups.  Negotiations, which are almost nonexistent, have long lost their influence in bringing the employer and the employees to an understanding.

Innocent and defenseless school going children have been caught in a major stalemate between the government and the teachers. Currently, pupils and students who attend the public schools in the country are stuck in their homes despite the start of a new school term. Thing is, the teachers have vowed not to go back to the classrooms until the government revises their perks. Rowdy demonstrations by the educators over the same have been witnessed across the country.

Demonstrations by Kenyan educators.

Similar ill fate to that which has befallen the primary and secondary school students could become a reality to the students in public universities and institutions of higher learning in the week next. This will however not be new as it has happened before. The blow suffered by the country’s education sector in the aftermath of these strikes cannot be overemphasized. You know what’s even worse?; The fact that those who suffer the most are the ordinary citizens, who are a majority, and who cannot afford to take their children to private institutions, where learning goes on uninterrupted.

Can you imagine a country where even doctors and medical personnel down their tools and take to the streets to demand their rights of a decent pay? Well, Kenya is sadly one such country. And the result of a strike by this all important group ladies and gentlemen, is not rocket science. Last time it happened, which is in the recent past, patients were left for the dead with no one to neither attend to nor treat to them! And to think that this profession was a calling and as such pay issues hardly arise!

Patients left unattended following the strike by medical personnel.

 That the figure of otherwise avoidable deaths increased is true.  It therefore comes as a shocker to the citizenry to learn that the plans to roll out another strike of the sort are at an advanced stage, and the nightmare could begin at any time. Not long ago, it was widely rumored and feared that the country’s defense forces were on a go slow. It breaks my heart so to even think about it as am sure it does you. It actually came as a relief when the police spokesperson refuted any such claims, but the fact that there was even a mention of it is bad enough!

 The message here is plain simple. Teachers have downed their tools and university lecturers as well as medical personnel are seemingly following suit. Soon all these important institutions will be unable to deliver services as expected. The government MUST take action rather than wait for the workforces to make good their strike threats. Service delivery to its citizenry is the primary role of any government and it must pursue accomplishment of the same. It is also true that most of Kenya’s workforce is grossly underpaid and the government needs to act over this as soon as yesterday rather than resulting to threats of sacking those who participate in strikes.

If all stakeholders work together, the current problems that the country is facing are nothing that good and synchronized teamwork and negotiations can’t solve. This, so we can march towards a more prosperous and democratic Kenya where everyone feels involved and their input is appreciated!! I rest my case.