CORD's Raila Odinga Represents the Interest of Youth

By Michael Obare 

 In the heat of Coalition making towards the next general elections, Kenyans have been treated to a shocking lie by the Jubilee Coalition who, for populism's sake, have painted themselves youth and are eager to fool the country's younger generation that they are championing their cause.

Known retrogressive forces, conservatives and political tricksters have formed a united front to hoodwink Kenyan youth to vote them into power in March, so that they can re-launch bad governance, corruption and negative ethnicity; all practices that have in the past undermined youth empowerment in Kenya.

It is evidently clear that out of all the candidates in the presidential race this year; only Raila Odinga (CORD) represents the interest of the Kenyan youth.

The youth form almost 44% of the country’s population and they are the hope of our country. They thus deserve better. They deserve a progressive and honest government.

Towards the 2007 elections the ODM under the leadership of the Right Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Raila Odinga had prioritized youth empowerment in its manifesto. It was in recognition of the important role youths play in wealth creation and sustaining society.

The dream was frustrated after ODM and Raila failed to capture power in the 2007 elections. Because of the complexities of running the resultant coalition government, ODM has only been able to achieve some of the goals they had set in place. That was mainly because of the frustrations by the other coalition partners (PNU).

If elected to power in 2007, ODM had crafted policies that would ensure that the livelihood and welfare of the poorest and most vulnerable people were protected fully. A full-fledged ministry was to be established to supervise and coordinate the implementation.

In the Coalition deal under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, social assistance including cash transfers is being offered to orphans and vulnerable persons including those with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. The PM has strongly supported these programs despite heavy resistance.

ODM had also set out plans to enhance the role of micro-finance (MF) services which has been partly achieved through the establishment of the Youth Enterprise Fund and Women’s Empowerment Fund as well as the licensing of various MFI’s.

ODM had also pledged in 2007 to open job-seeker offices (employment Bureaux) in major cities and towns and this has been achieved through the reactivation of labour offices in all county headquarters.

Kenyan youths should now be able to determine who their real enemy is. Those who have been hell bent in frustrating the efforts of the Prime Minister in implementing that which is of benefit to the Kenyan youth are indeed our enemies.

Kenyans now have a new constitution whose major beneficiaries are the youth. It is the Prime Minister who campaigned for this constitution while these power hungry politicians now pretending to be pro-youth, the forces opposed to change and those who wanted to maintain the status quo vehemently opposed it.

It is these same backward forces who are now out to mutilate this constitution that Kenyans have fought for many years and lives even lost while the premier and his team of reformers are leading the battle to implement it to the letter. The new government that will be formed in 2013 under the leadership of Raila Odinga has sworn to protect, implement and defend the Constitution in spirit and letter.

In the new government in 2013 under Raila Odinga’s leadership, the youth will be involved in decision-making and planning of interventions that address their needs, there will be well-equipped vocational and entrepreneurial centers in each sub-county, promotion of working relationships between the private sector, educational institutions and non-state actors to provide opportunities for job placement, internships and apprenticeship to young college graduates as well as promotion of modern sports centres in each sub-county, to enable the development of sporting talent among the youth.

In addition, a Raila Odinga led government will mainstream physical education and sports as an examinable subject in the education system, set aside financial resources that will lead to the establishment of modern stadia and sports facilities in every county and the availability of world-class sports facilities at the national level.

His government will also facilitate the establishment of national sports academies for various sporting disciplines and the establishment of a sports policy and legislation unit to oversee the development of policies and guidelines targeting women, children and persons with disabilities, and to ensure proper management of sports institutions and associations.

In matters of health, a Raila Odinga led government will strengthen the implementation of policies and laws by ensuring the consolidation and inclusion of budget lines to support the health activities targeting the youth. It will also put in place measures in support of the development of health programmes that meet the needs of young people.

This is what sets the PM apart from his myopic competitors as a true champion of the reforms which the youths want badly. The youth should shun the jubilee opportunists.

The author is Director For Youth Affairs - Friends of Raila Lobby Group (FORA 2013)

Drama as Wanjiru’s Educational Qualifications are Rejected by Higher Education Commission

Kumekucha Exclusive
A large number of Kenyans have expressed interest to become pioneer governors in all the 47 counties. It is a new position, which many Kenyans are trying to come to terms with.

News reaching this blogger is that the ODM political strategy for Nairobi County has been thrown into a spin after the Commissioner of Higher Education declined to accept Hon Dr Margaret Wanjiru’s graduate qualifications.

According to the new constitutional demands, these, among others, are the qualifications required for individuals running for for election as a County Governor or Deputy County Governor:

A person is eligible for election as a governor if the person-
-Is a registered voter.
-Is the holder of a degree from a university that is recognised in Kenya
-Is either – nominated by a political party or an independent candidate supported by at least five hundred registered voters from the ward concerned.

According to JIAM sources, Hon. Bishop Dr. Margaret Wanjiru previously worked as a house girl, hawker, a toilet cleaner, car cleaner and office cleaner. On graduation from an unspecified college she earned herself a position as sales girl. The same sources indicate that the Bishop holds a Doctorate in Divinity excelling in the matters of religion, education and human sciences, and that she recently obtained a certificate on governance from Harvard University - USA.

The Bombshell

In letter dated 02/01/2013 , CHE/10/9/1/VOL.140, The Commission for Higher Education has refused to recognize, Hon Bishop Wanjiru's qualification.

In letter dated 31/12/2012,  Hon Dr Wanjiru wrote to the commission requesting that her Doctor of Theology awarded by Vineyard Harvester Bible College and Bachelor of Christian Leadership awarded by United Graduate College be recognized. The Commission replied that both colleges are not listed in the directories on higher education which includes the world higher education data base of 2012 a publication of UNESCO. Most importantly however, the purported worldwide accreditation Commission of Christian Education Institution( WWAC) that accredited the colleges is not listed by the US Department of Education.

Lastly and to add insult to injury, The Hon. Dr. Wanjiru supposedly only passed one subject (English literature -6) at O- level done at SMTPH Shah Secondary School, and managed grade 9 in all other subjects.

The commission in its last statement said that they will not be accountable for the authenticity of the certificates or the identity of the certificate holder presented for recognition.

These developments mean that the ODM cannot risk nominating Hon ‘Dr.’ Bishop Margaret Wanjiru either as governor or deputy county governor as she will most likely be rejected by the IEBC, and there will not be time to replace an ODM candidate once the deadline lapses. The Bishop may however, opt to run for Member of Parliament or as Women Representatives.

The other notable candidates running for ODM ticket in Nairobi Gubernatorial polls are former Mumias Sugar MD, Dr. Evans Kidero and former Town Clerk Philip Kisia.

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