TI News
Tanzanian transporters pay $13,000 in bribes per month - report
NAIROBI, Nov 19 (TrustLaw) - Tanzanian transport companies each pay almost $13,000 (8,169.93 pounds) a month in bribes to
authorities, a survey of East Africa's transport corridors by Transparency International showed on Monday. Full Story, Reuters
Survey unearths graft rot in transport sector
A survey by Transparency International Kenya and Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) has revealed that regulatory authorities in East Africa demand stiff bribes from transporters and drivers along transport corridors. Full Story, IPP Media
Traders reel from cargo clearance bribes
Drivers and transport companies pay bribes totalling Sh570,775 every month to speed up passage of their goods through customs and road checks, according to a survey by Transparency International. Full Story, Business Daily...
Internationally, the human right to water implies that water supply must be accessible within, or in the immediate vicinity of, each household, educational institution, workplace and public place. Where this is impossible, a source must be provided close enough to allow people to collect sufficient water – at least the essential minimum of 20 litres of water. The time required to collect these 20 litres should normally not exceed 30 minutes (walking both ways, including waiting times), and the overall distance should be less than one kilometre. The water source should be located in a secure place, taking into account the needs of the most vulnerable groups using it. Threats to the security of women collecting water, for instance, must be prevented. Read more...
Transparency, accountability and participation revolutionise water service provision in Nanyuki
Like many residents of rural areas and informal settlements in Kenya, clean water for domestic use that is easily accessible for residents of Kanyoni village in Nanyuki was a dream.
A scenario replicated among numerous families in majority of rural Kenya. Without piped water, buying water from private vendors can eat into a huge portion of their meager household income, causing families to resort to untreated water from wells, rivers, and streams. Many residents of Kanyoni had to make do with water from River Nanyuki, which flows through Mt. Kenya National Park,and they share it with wildlife. Read more...
The 55billion KAA greenfields terminal tendering debacle
The question as to whether or not the Public Procurement and Disposal Act of 2005 has been able to live up to its objectives to promote integrity and fairness, increase transparency and accountability as well as public confidence in the procurement process is one that is open to debate. While some believe that the Act in its present form desperately yearns for amendment, others are confident of its ability to make corruption in public procurement a thing of the past. The Ksh55billion Greenfields terminal tender, provided a perfect test scenario for the public procurement legal framework. Read more...
Religious leaders in Uasin Gishu County trained on their role in the politics of Kenya
Fifty religious leaders from various religious groups in Uasin Gishu County benefited from a sensitization workshop on the constitution of Kenya (2010)facilitated by Transparency International-Kenya and members of the North Rift Coalition for Good Governance. Read More...
Why should a Kenyan citizen register as a voter?
Registering as a voter enables one to participate in elections.
A registered voter can chose a leader of his/ her choice.
A registered voter can seek to be elected in any post he/she qualifies for.
A registered voter can safeguard his/her constitutional rights and freedoms.
A registered voter will have a chance to change leaders either by electing new leaders or renewing the mandate of those already in leadership positions.
You can get more information about the electoral process in Kenya by downloading ‘Frequently Asked Questions on the Electoral Process Under the Constitution of Kenya (2010)’
Public participation in governance gives Kenya a chance against graft and poor governance
The legendary Alexander the Great has various theories explaining how he ascended to power. One theory is that he severed an intricately tied knot with his sword. Many great men had tried without success to sever this knot famously known as the ‘Gordian knot’’. Severing the knot with a sword was a simple way of solving a complex and intricate problem. He was highly celebrated and earned himself royalty status. Public participation is the sword through which to sever the Gordian knot of bad governance and perennial corruption. Read More...
33.6 million shillings and counting: The market price of ‘petty’ bribery in Kenya
The market price of corruption in Kenya now stands at just over Ksh. 33.6 million. This is according to the data on I paid a bribe Kenya derived from 819 bribe stories that Kenyans have shared on the website.
Broken down into counties, Nairobi is the most bribed county with 270 bribe stories, followed by Mombasa, Nakuru, Kiambu and Kisumu in that order. Read More...
Public participation in governance gives Kenya a chance against graft and poor governance
The legendary Alexander the Great has various theories explaining how he ascended to power. One theory is that he severed an intricately tied knot with his sword. Many great men had tried without success to sever this knot famously known as the ‘Gordian knot’’. Severing the knot with a sword was a simple way of solving a complex and intricate problem. He was highly celebrated and earned himself royalty status. Public participation is the sword through which to sever the Gordian knot of bad governance and perennial corruption. Read More...
Communities in Wajir set to benefit from climate financing advocacy led by TI-Kenya
Transparency International Kenya will begin the process of climate finance advocacy with organisations working in Wajir to enable the communities in the county to benefit from climate financing.
During a visit to the county and interaction with both the communities and organisations working in the area, TI-Kenya Climate governance programme staff learnt that that despite the fact that there are several organisations implementing climate change adaptation activities particularly rain water harvesting, drilling of boreholes, forage harvesting and storage, only Oxfam is aware of climate finance. Read More...
The leadership and integrity bill dramatically fails to deliver constitutional requirements
The Leadership and Integrity Bill as proposed by Cabinet is a skeleton Bill if compared to that proposed by the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution.
The Cabinet Bill deleted 2 very many key provisions from the CIC Bill that would ensure adequate promotion of leadership and integrity in Kenya. These provisions that were deleted by Cabinet were Declaration of Assets, Income and Liability of State officers and Certificate of Compliance with Chapter Six for persons seeking election or appointment to State office.As a result the Cabinet Bill wholly and completely fails in delivery of leadership and integrity. The proposed Bill is the boldest attempt by the Executive to water down provisions of Chapter Six of the Constitution and seeks to insulate State officers from stringent accountability requirements that the Constitution demands for all who hold high office. Read More...
The Integrated Public Complaints Referral Mechanism Pilot Launched in Kisumu
SEMA! Piga Ripoti!!
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Administrative Justice, National Anti-Corruption Campaign Steering Committee and Transparency International-Kenya, have now partnered to bring your Complaints Referral Centre near you! A pilot phase will be carried out in Kisumu for three months between August to October 2012. Read More...
Corruption as a campaign issue
It is election season once again. Politicians know the issues that deeply concern us and will be harping on them to touch our hearts and get our votes. One of the long running concerns of Kenyans is the runaway corruption in our public processes. In 2002, corruption was a key campaign issue. Already it is an issue on the lips of many politicians indicating that the coming general elections will be no different. But considering the lessons of the last ten years, should we take mere promises to eradicate graft? What must we do to avoid being taken for a ride by folks who are either deeply steeped in graft or are the greatest and loudest defenders of those suspected of looting public coffers? Read More...
Miguna’s ‘peeling back the mask’ exposes the need for freedom of information law in Kenya
The whirlwind created by Miguna’s book will be with us for some time. This being an election season, politicians opposed to the Prime Minister will busy themselves scouring the pages to seek for political arsenal. Those sympathetic to him will of course seek for ways of moderating the damage. Read More...
Kenya still flirting with the bottom rungs of the Corruption Perceptions Index
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) launched globally by Transparency International on 1st December 2011 ranked Kenya at position 154 out of 182. On a scale of zero to ten, Kenya scored 2.1 in the index (zero indicating a high level of corruption perception and 10 showing a low level of corruption perception). The CPI 2011 surveyed 182 countries compared to 178 in the 2010. Kenya is among the 27 lowest-scoring countries in the company of countries widely perceived as endemically corrupt or failed states.
Botswana (placed at position 32) still remains the least corrupt country in Africa with a score of 6.1, followed by Rwanda (49) with a score of 5.0. Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan and Somali have been ranked at the bottom of the index at positions 172, 177 and 182 respectively. New Zealand (9.5), Denmark (9.4), Finland (9.4), Sweden (9.3) and Singapore (9.2) are placed at position one to five respectively. Afghanistan, Myanmar and North Korea are placed at the bottom of the index at position 180 and 182.
“Most African countries have continued to perform poorly in the index due to weak institutions and a corrupt political culture. African leaders should embrace transparency and accountability and show some resolve in fighting corruption. At the moment, in Kenya as in many countries in Africa, the political leadership remains the greatest obstacle to effective anti-corruption initiatives,” said Samuel Kimeu, the Executive Director of Transparency International – Kenya during the release of the CPI results in Nairobi. Download the Full Report Here...
A call for improved transparency, accountability and participation in the water sector
Transparency International-Kenya released the National Water Integrity Study report in Nsirobi, Kenya on 7th December 2011. The report was launched by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Engineer David Stower. Various officials from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI), water companies, water service boards and the Water Appeals Board among other government and non-governmental organisations, and development partners also attended the event.
The report provides an overview of the Kenyan water supply sector in terms of integrity and performance and is based on literature review and discussions with water sector actors. Six case studies conducted in Kangemi (Nairobi), Migosi (Kisumu), Old Town (Mombasa), Kamukunji (Eldoret), Mutego and Kanyoni (Nanyuki) also inform the report.
The report indicates that despite key water sector reforms initiated in 2002, equitable access to water is still compromised by lack of integrity and ineffective regulation of water utilities and informal service providers. The study was undertaken through the Transparency and Integrity in Service Delivery in Africa (TISDA) project between February 2009 and June 2011
Speaking during the launch, the TI-Kenya Board Chair, Dr Richard Leakey, said that key actors in the sector must consider collaborative governance involving a diversity of private, public and non-government stakeholders acting together towards commonly agreed goals. “Improving governance in water services is not just about government systems and capacities; it is about a range of non-state agents and their interaction with the government. It is about engaging civil society and establishing a functioning social contract between the government and its citizens to bring about effective basic services. And it is ultimately about the progressive achievement of agreed rights to water,” said Dr Leakey. Download the Full Report...
US Ambassador visits TI-Kenya in Eldoret
Transparency International-Kenya’s Advocacy and Legal Advisory Centre (ALAC) in Eldoret was, in October 2011, honoured to host the American ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Scott Gration. The visit to ALAC was part of the ambassador’s four day tour in the North Rift region of Kenya. The visit targeted organisations funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Richard Maina, the ALAC Eldoret Officer gave a presentation on TI-Kenya, ALAC’s engagement with coalition partners and various initiatives by ALAC Eldoret; successes and challenges. Projects cited included the Transparency and Integrity in Service Delivery in Africa initiative focusing on the water sector, and capacity building interventions on the Local Authority Service Delivery Action Plan (LASDAP), gender responsive budgeting and public procurement. A previous ALAC client shared a testimony demonstrating the legal support she has received from ALAC Eldoret.
Present were the Eldoret Diocese Catholic Bishop Cornelius Korir and nine members of the North Rift Coalition for Good Governance steering committee, which ALAC Eldoret co-convenes.
Global Corruption Report: Climate Change launched in Nairobi
Transparency International-Kenya (TI-Kenya) launched the Global Corruption Report (GCR) on Climate Change on 31st October 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya. The publication contains expert analyses on the major corruption and governance risks that societies face when implementing a comprehensive collective policy response to global warming.
In her opening address, Ms. Rachael Mbai, the TI-Kenya Board Vice-Chair emphasised that climate governance institutions in Kenya must not only be accountable to the development partners but also to the people of Kenya on whom the institutions draw their mandate.. These institutions have the duty to involve communities and stakeholders in the governance of climate since it’s the communities that remain affected and continue to struggle to adapt to the effects of climate change. The people’s participation in governance processes is today a Constitutional requirement that must be upheld.
Other speakers included Ms. Grace Akumu, the Executive Director for the Climate Change Network who called on industrialised countries to take responsibility and reduce carbon emissions, while Mr. John Kioni, Convener Kenya Climate Change Working Group, called on the civil society to be vigilant in monitoring climate change funds and curb mismanagement of natural resources. Also invited was Mr. Steven Kimbuyu from the Climate Change Secretariat, Ministry of Environment. The launch was moderated by Samuel Kimeu, Executive Director, TI-Kenya. Download the Global Corruption Report on Climate Governance
Introducing the Climate Governance programme
The launch of the Global Corruption Report on Climate Change gave Transparency International-Kenya a suitable platform to introduce the Climate Governance programme to a broad section of stakeholders and initiate the formation of a climate governance network. These were the key issues deliberated at a workshop held after the launch of the report. 52 representatives from civil society organisations, the ministries of environment and energy, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), United Nations Development Programme and local universities attended the workshop.
Members present agreed to form thematic groups to address climate finance issues. The following were the proposed broad areas:
1. Carbon markets / Reducing Emission for Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD +)
2. United Nations-based climate finance policies and mechanisms
3. Adaptation finance
4. Measuring, reporting and verification systems
5. Climate finance policy
6. Sector –based concerns
7. National climate finance
A team of seven people was constituted and tasked with the responsibility of refining the themes to minimise overlaps. TI-Kenya looks forward to a sustained engagement with the network so as to scale-up cooperation and advocacy for greater transparency in climate finance, policy development, implementation and oversight.
Scoring Gender Responsive Budgeting
Transparency International-Kenya’s Advocacy and Legal Advisory Centres in Mombasa and Eldoret facilitated workshops between 3rd and 8th November 2011 to roll out score cards to guide the monitoring of gender responsive budgeting by civil society organisations in Likoni, Mvita and Eldoret. The score cards will enable communities to quantitatively monitor and evaluate the performance of services and projects of key sectors and institutions in terms of gender equity in the allocation of public resources. The participants formulated score cards to monitor gender responsive budgeting in the education, health, local authorities, environment and social services sectors. Following the workshops, several participants reported better understanding of the community score card and how it will be used to obtain information on the allocation of public resources from the community as well as its use in ensuring gender balance in all sectors.
Civil Society Week in Nyeri
The 2012 elections and Kenya’s level of preparedness dominated discussions during the Civil Society Week observed in Nyeri from 31st October to 5th November 2011. Transparency International-Kenya was among the participating organisations at the week-long event themed ‘Elections 2012: Are we Prepared?’ Issues pertaining to the constitutional implementation process, civic education and devolution also took centre-stage. The event organised by the Amkeni Wakenya facility of the United Nation’s Development Programme (UNDP), was attended by over 320 participants from civil society, donor community, government and independent commissions, provincial administration and political parties. TI-Kenya was represented by the Advocacy and Legal Advisory Centre (ALAC) Eldoret officer, Richard Maina.
One of the key highlights of the event was a public forum which opened up discussions on the Constitution and elections to Nyeri town residents. Various civil society organisations including TI-Kenya reached out to the public during an exhibition mounted on the sidelines of the forum. The exhibition afforded TI-Kenya an opportunity to reach close to 60 Nyeri residents through legal aid on corruption complaints, while 100 people received various information, education and communication materials.
Enhancing knowledge on pharmaceutical procurement
Transparency International-Kenya facilitated a regional training of trainers (ToT) workshop on pharmaceutical procurement and supply chain management from October 31st to 4th November 2011 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The workshop brought together civil society organisations (CSOs) from three national multi-stakeholder coalitions monitoring pharmaceutical procurement and supply chain management (PSM) in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The overall objective of the workshop was to train a core group of CSOs who will be responsible for cascading the training in their respective countries. The workshop aimed at building capacity on the fundamental principles of pharmaceutical procurement and supply chain management; the role of CSOs in monitoring PSM; and the variety of tools and resources available for monitoring PSM. The participants also shared lessons learnt in engaging with public procurement policy makers.
Monitoring food aid in East Pokot
The Humanitarian Aid programme of Transparency International-Kenya conducted a field visit in Chemolingot, East Pokot ahead of an integrity study on food assistance in November 2011. The study which targets 66,600 beneficiaries of food in the region intends to examine the general distribution of food aid. World Vision has been selected as a cooperating partner (CP) in the district.
During the visit, TI-Kenya officers held a meeting with the East Pokot District Commissioner, Mr. Amos Mariba and other government officers based in Chemolingot to share the methodology and the survey questions of the study. The research seeks to improve the effectiveness of food aid in Kenya by identifying gaps and loopholes which could allow diversion of aid and/or prevent access to food for targeted beneficiaries. The study will combine an integrity analysis of the food assistance sector at the national level with three cases studies conducted in Wajir, Pokot and Turkana.
Companies from Russia and China most likely to bribe abroad
Bribing public officials when conducting business abroad is a regular occurrence, according to the global Bribe Payers’ Index launched by Transparency International on 2nd November 2011. The survey which ranks 28 leading international and regional exporting countries by the likelihood of their firms to bribe abroad reveals that companies from Russia and China are seen as most likely to pay bribes in foreign countries. Companies from the Netherlands and Switzerland are seen as least likely to bribe. South Africa was ranked at position 15 and is the only African country listed as likely to pay bribes abroad.
The Bribe Payers Survey also captures perceptions of bribery across various sectors. Companies in the public works and construction sectors had the worst scores in the survey. Although Kenya was not among the countries surveyed or ranked, the findings of the report are still relevant as there are local and multi-national companies operating in Kenya that pay bribes to influence public procurement processes in their favour. See the Full report...
Kenyans should not bear the cost of corruption
Public outcry and condemnation greeted the government’s move to refund donor money embezzled in the Free Primary Education and Kazi kwa Vijana (youth employment) programmes in November 2011. On 3rd November 2011, Transparency International-Kenya Executive Director, Mr Samuel Kimeu issued a statement against the use of public funds to refund the misappropriated money while little effort has been made to bring the corrupt officers to account.
“TI-Kenya is dismayed that despite a lot of rhetoric and political bickering over corruption, there have not been sufficient answers provided for scandals in the education sector and Kazi kwa Vijana projects. TI-Kenya is calling on the leadership to address this matter decisively,” he added.
TI-Kenya will continue monitoring and advocating for accountability in the use of public resources to ensure that the government protects the public interest and achieves socio-economic development plans. Read the Full Statement...
Spreading the word of leadership and integrity in Huruma
Enhancing understanding on leadership and integrity as dictated in chapter six of the Constitution of Kenya, remain at the core of Transparency International-Kenya’s activities. The Advocacy and Legal Advisory Centre, Nairobi staff Juliet Mule and Beatrice Odallo carried the leadership and integrity banner while facilitating a session on corruption at Huruma Kambi ya Moto on 21st November 2011. Also discussed during the forum were issues on good governance, social audits and devolved funds with focus on Local Authority Transfer Funds (LATF), youth and women funds. The participants cited various challenges faced in accessing devolved funds despite strict adherence to the rules and procedures. They formulated an action plan highlighting the areas they need to build upon to increase their participation and access to the funds. The forum was organised by Pamoja Trust.
‘Time to Wake Up’
Two public forums on the Transparency International’s anticorruption global campaign themed ‘Time to Wake Up’ were held in Mukuru, Nairobi and Maili Nne in Eldoret in October 2011. In Nairobi, the forum was held in the Mukuru Kwa Njenga with the participants discussing how corruption has affected them locally and strategies to counter the vice.
Most of the participants felt that the root cause of corruption is poor leadership which citizens contribute to by electing undeserving and unethical individuals. Participants suggested ways in which they can come together to vet aspiring leaders to ensure their suitability.
The forum in Eldoret was facilitated by TI-Kenya’s Advocacy and Legal Advisory Centre. Participants highlighted the Police (traffic police), the courts and the Ministry of Agriculture as institutions where corruption was rampant in the region. The ALAC Officer Richard Maina reminded the participants on the power the Constitution gives citizens and urged them to make use of this authority to fight corruption.
The ‘Time to Wake Up’ campaign seeks to arouse civic action on corruption issues and is being conducted by four other TI national chapters in Hungary, Columbia, Chinese Taipei and Lebanon. It will be rolled out to other countries in the coming months.
Monitoring PACT for impact in Mombasa
The Transparency and Integrity in Service Delivery in Africa (TISDA) team of Transparency International-Kenya facilitated a meeting from 17th to 19th October 2011 between the Old Town Water Action Group (OTWAG) and Mombasa Water and Sewerage Company (MOWASCO). The aim of the meeting was to strengthen the relationship between the two groups following the signing of a development pact in May 2011. The pact formalised the partnership between the two groups and is aimed at improving water service delivery in Mombasa. During the meeting, OTWAG was tasked with identifying interventions requiring MOWASCO’s support.
Making budgets more gender responsive
Transparency International-Kenya’s Advocacy and Legal Advisory Centre in Mombasa conducted a Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) training from 26th to 29th September 2011.
The meeting in Mombasa was attended by 30 participants, 12 of whom were from public service institutions. The main objective of the training was to create awareness as well as strengthen participants’ understanding of gender responsive budgeting and budget making processes at both the local and national levels.
The training focused on the key GRB concepts; the budget making process in Kenya; GRB initiatives and implementation in Kenya; GRB tools; gender budget analysis; budget planning and programming; and linking GRB with programme based budgeting, budget monitoring and reporting.
Participants were given an opportunity to draw a plan of action on how they will utilise the knowledge gained and disseminate the information in their institutions focusing on food assistance challenges in West Pokot Humanitarian Aid programme conducted a focus group discussion aimed at discussing challenges in food aid in West Pokot on 4th October 2011.
Present at the meeting were the Regional Provincial Commissioner for North Rift Mr. Wanyanga, the Central Pokot, West Pokot and South Pokot District Commissioners, Pokot Council of Elders in Kapenguria, aid agencies implementing programmes in the area amongst others.
Issues raised included insufficient food supplies to and dependency on relief aid. The meeting agreed that the Government needs to offer long-term solutions to perennial food shortages and famine by benefits and other methods of farming apart from pastoralism.
The TI -Kenya team also facilitated a meeting with the community members of Kabich Bich and Kong’elai Divisions on 4th and 6th October 2011 to introduce the methodology and survey questions of the Food Assistance Integrity Study (FAIS) that TI-Kenya intends to conduct.
TI-Kenya rouses Nairobi show-goers
TI-Kenya set up an exhibition stand at the Nairobi International Trade Fair that ran from Monday 26th September to Sunday 2nd October 2011. During this period, TI-Kenya Staff interacted with visitors to take a personal initiative and join in the fight against corruption. The activity was part of the ‘Time to Wake Up’ Transparency International pilot global campaign whose clarion call in Kenya is Amka! Masaa ni sasa (Wake up, the time is now).
Visitors to the stand wrote their reactions to the Amka! call on giant mounted posters and signed against their statements, and were able to view a short audio-visual clip with the same theme.
The visitors also received publications by TI-Kenya and more information on TI-Kenya’s work including the advisory support given by the Advocacy and Legal Advisory Centres (ALACs) in Mombasa, Nairobi and Eldoret.
Mount Kenya University crowned FOI debate champs
Mount Kenya University (MKU) beat four other university teams to clinch the inaugural Freedom of Information inter-universities’ debate challenge held at the MKU Towers on 24th September 2011. The debate was dedicated to the International Right to Know day which is commemorated on 28th September annually and was supported by the ‘Time to Wake Up’ pilot campaign by TI aimed at arousing civic action on corruption. The University of Nairobi Parklands Campus and the Kenyatta University School of Law, Parklands secured the second and third positions. Inoorero University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology also competed in the debate co-organised by the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya) and the students’ caucus of Jukwaa la Katiba. The participants presented submissions on key issues touching on access to information such as strategies to realise access to information as per Article 35 of the Constitution 2010 and the benefits of freedom of information in key processes and public service provision.
Elimu Yetu gave a special trophy for the team that gave convincing arguments on issues pertaining to access to information corruption and the education sector. The University of Nairobi emerged tops in this challenge, closely followed by MKU. The panel of judges based their assessment and scores on the practicality of the proposals in the presentations, extent to which the submissions were linked to the Constitution of Kenya 2010, eloquence and confidence of the contestants. Speaking at the event, the Freedom of Information ambassador and award winning artiste Juliani encouraged the students to take advantage of provisions under Article 35 to demand for better service provision from government and public officers.
Apart from the overall debate trophy, the winning team also received shopping vouchers and high-end assorted stationery. The goodies including airtime scratch-cards, shopping vouchers, stationery, and chocolates from TI-Kenya and ICJ, and cash prizes from Juliani were extended to members of the audience who answered on-the-spot questions on corruption and other governance issues. TI-Kenya and the other participating organisations are planning follow-up events with the students to enhance their participation in the access to information campaign.
‘Kikulacho’ on another tour
TI-Kenya through the Advocacy and Communications programme conducted a second round of public forums on leadership and integrity in Narok, Kericho, Kisii and Bungoma in August 2011. This followed initial forums held in the same areas in July where the TI-Kenya film ‘Kikulacho: The bite within’ was screened. In the second leg which attracted a number of previous participants, there were focused group discussions to deliberate key issues presented in the film. The discussions largely dwelt on: reforms implemented so far in the electoral process; other changes needed to ensure accountable elections; how can citizens use elections to advance socio-economic change; and how can Kenyans elect suitable leaders that demonstrate the guiding principles of leadership as stated in chapter six of the Constitution.
In the film, reknowned comedian Nyambane proudly states that: “I’m a human resource manager of Kenya, I employ the president, MPs or anyone, that’s who I am.” The statement was used to drum home the message that leadership is a public trust and citizens are the real holders of the power that is delegated to individuals they elect, thus the leaders should bring them honour, respect and dignity. Thus the participants also discussed strategies they can use to hold leaders accountable. The highlight of the forums was the formulation of action points on how citizens will personally influence the election of responsible and accountable leadership, and how they will hold them to account. Formation of political accountability groups, through vetting of candidates; taking part in elections; advancing civic education through churches, women groups, chiefs’ barazas, and other gatherings to disseminate the information received were among individual points of action mooted. The next round of forums will thus focus on mechanisms to realise the action points made. The second leg forums in Muranga and Machakos will be held on 5th and 13th September 2011 respectively.
Motivating youth to claim their stake in East Africa’s leadership
TI-Kenya facilitated a session on ‘Youth Participation in Leadership, Governance and Influencing Policy in the light of the Millenium Development Goals’ at the East Africa Youth Conference held between 8th and 12th August 2011 in Nairobi. About 300 youth from the East African region participated in the forum. The TI-Kenya Advocacy and Communications Officer Sheila Masinde emphasised that youth have the best understanding of the realities of their own lives and as such have several ideas to offer policy makers. “The youth form a critical mass of the future leadership and constitute the most vital resources for national development, therefore they are the key to the much needed generational transformation needed to fashion good governance,” said Ms Masinde. The youth were given various mechanisms that they can use to influence the achievement of each of the millennium development goals. Involvement in youth organisations and movements; engagement with youth representatives in key institutions and processes, ; networking with government, NGOs, global and multilateral organisations; organised activism; online forums - social media and diligent vetting of aspiring leaders were identified as avenues the youth can use to participate in development and policy processes. Most importantly, the youth were encouraged to offer themselves for elective and appointive leadership positions that they qualify for.
Fostering peace through transparency and accountability practices
About 130 community leaders from four counties in the Rift Valley region gathered in Eldoret on 15th and 16th August 2011 for a training of joint community project monitoring and reporting teams organised by Mercy Corps. TI-Kenya was on hand to facilitate the opening session on ‘Enhancing Peace: Institutional and individual accountability/transparency in realising Kenya's Development Goals’ in Eldoret. The session largely facilitated by the TI-Kenya Advocacy and Communication officer Sheila Masinde highlighted how transparency and accountability practices promote peace, and how the opposite can destabilise the country as witnessed during the 2007 post election crisis. The participants were therefore urged to take up the following individual responsibilities to enhance transparency and accountability: jealously defend the Constitution; inculcate the national values articulated in Article 10 of the Constitution in their private and public lives; monitor the conduct of leaders and public institutions in line with the provisions of the Constitution, and mobilise public pressure for action on institutions and leaders that disregard the Constitution.
The training was part of Mercy Corps’ peace-building programme that aims to strengthen the ability of local, district, and provincial structures to address the causes of post-election violence and promote sustainable peace and reconciliation. Participants were drawn from communities that will benefit from Mercy Corps’ funded community consensus-building and economic development projects. TI-Kenya through the Advocacy and Legal Advisory Centre in Eldoret is exploring ways of engaging in the community monitoring initiatives.
Devolved system of government to open up new opportunities for youth
The devolved system of government as per the Constitution provides endless business opportunities for the youth of Kenya. Speaking at a commemoration forum for the International Youth Day held at Ufungamano in Nairobi, Juliet Mule, the TI-Kenya Advocacy and Legal Advisory Centre officer in Nairobi reminded the youth from various constituencies within Nairobi County what the Constitution has to offer them. “At least 15% of the total annual government revenue will be disbursed to county governments under the new dispensation. That roughly translates to at least Kshs 3 billion per county and most of this money will be spent in procurement and it is up to you to position yourself to benefit from that,” Ms Mule said.
Ms Mule also reminded the youth that provisions for independent candidates and special seats is good news for youth harbouring political ambitions. The forum was organised by the Youth Congress. TI-Kenya’s documentary ‘Kikulacho, The bite within’ was also screened at the event and it stimulated discussion during the plenary session.
Keeping the Garisssa taps flowing
TI-Kenya conducted a rapid assessment of the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company (GAWASCO) water supply system, financial and technical performance in July 2011. This followed an invitation by GAWASCO. TI-Kenya through the Transparency and Integrity in Service Delivery in Africa (TISDA) project team also showcased the need to strengthen systems and departments within the water utility companies to enhance transparency and accountability for efficiency and improved performance.
The team facilitated an exercise through which the participants isolated areas which need or are perceived to require strengthening or improvement where GAWASCO doubled up as a water service provider and a user. This was followed by group discussions to explore solutions. The participants were also guided through a process of collecting information both internally within their departments and externally from the consumers in a manner that will help extensively analyse the integrity of the GAWASCO system by presenting and simulating a user questionnaire. Several follow up actions were agreed upon, including capacity building for GAWASCO staff in customer care and the establishment of an improved complaints mechanism.
