From: Kenya Diaspora Development Forum of MN.
Kenya Diaspora Development Forum
2825 Cedar Ave. S/ ; Minneapolis, MN 55407 USA;
ph 1612-399-6163
Our Mission: Building a Progressive Community
Vision: to be a leading community organization and a partner in Kenya’s Development
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MEDIA ADVISORY
KENYA DIASPORA DEVELOPMENT FORUM PLANNING A POLITICAL PARTIES’ TOWN HALL MEETING
Diaspora wants parties to level with them on plans and policies reflecting their aspirations
The Kenya Diaspora Development Forum of Minnesota has planned and scheduled an all-political parties town hall fo- rum to enable Kenya’s parties to introduce and explain their respective positions on a broad range of key national issues in the run up to the upcoming national elections. Party officials and leaders have been invited to gather in Minneapolis on December 3, 2012 for a discussion with the Diaspora community and to introduce their party positions on policies and plans for the role of the Diaspora in national development. Parties are expected to explain their visions and their commitment to taking action to increase opportunities for greater roles for the Kenya Diaspora community in national development.
The invitation letter sent to all political parties’ secretariats describes the all-political parties’ town hall meeting as an opportunity to present and discuss party positions and commitment to developing policies and measures to mainstream the Kenya Diaspora issues in the national policy agenda. Under the theme, Road Map to Diaspora Engagement in National Development: Parties’ Elections Campaign Positions, the forum’s aim is to mainstream and maximize support for the Diaspora’s agenda in national development. “Our aim is to offer the Diaspora community the opportunity to call for action to address laws, policies and practices that will further the Diaspora agenda” said forum chairman Idris Abdi.
According to the hosting committee, a panel of Diaspora community leaders, advocates and experts will present political parties seeking to form the next government with views on creating policies conducive for diaspora engagement. Key dimensions of this discussion include exploring measures towards increasing the formal participation of the Diaspora in policymaking and greater political inclusion. “It is self-evident that members of the Diaspora have been instrumental in channeling development resources to Kenya without the benefit of formal “diaspora and development” programs” said Idris Abdi, chairman of the KDDF-MN the hosting organization. “These spontaneous efforts and connections have been driven by a wide range of motivations, from the purely altruistic to the investment oriented. However, these efforts have shared one thing in common: they happen with little or no government intervention” he added. The Diaspora identifies proactive engagement with political parties as a means to secure support towards Diaspora- friendly policies and legislation.
A statement released by the planning committee about the forum read, in part, “It is our goal to engage the diverse segments of Kenya’s institutions in broadening the Diaspora’s voice through these engagements and calling upon the home country institutions to play a greater role in creating opportunities through the enactment of concrete pro-Diaspora policies. To this end, the Diaspora community’s political choices should be guided by the extent that the respective political parties and their presidential candidates demonstrate commitment to accommodations for the Diaspora agenda”.
Kenya Diaspora organizations in all parts of the world recognize that they have been marginalized for a long time. They take the position that remaining passive as an under-represented group is no longer acceptable and the time has come to take action. The Diaspora communities are, therefore, joining forces to bring their agenda and inclusion issues to the forefront through securing clear and unequivocal commitment to their affairs by political parties.
The majority of Diaspora Kenyans share the experience of pursuing various development activities, altruistic and family goals in Kenya. These efforts aim at self-improvement, at supporting families and communities, and, improving life conditions for all. However, because these efforts are fragmented and lack structured collaboration with the government, development organizations and communities, their outcomes are not fully realized to the extent possible. The Kenya Diaspora Development Forum of Minnesota, a Diaspora community non-profit organization committed to building progressive communities, is contributing to efforts aimed at organizing and mobilizing Diaspora Kenyans to take steps to mainstream and entrench Diaspora agenda in the national political and policy discourse.
Through town hall meetings and other local activities, the KDDF-MN and like-minded Kenya Diaspora organizations are bringing the messages and goals of Road Map to Diaspora Engagement in National Development to political parties to take action through their 2013 elections platforms to increase opportunities for the inclusion of the Kenya Diaspora in national affairs. To learn more about Road Map to Diaspora Engagement in National Development, contact the Kenya Diaspora Development Forum of Minnesota.
The organizing committee is asking parties to indicate their participation at this forum by the Friday November 16, 2012.
PRESS CONTACT: For more information and further details, please contact:
Benson Metho, Secretary, Kenya Diaspora Development Forum of Minnesota at: kddfmn@gmail.com
Road Map to Diaspora Engagement in National Development is a statement of the principle that all Kenyans have a right to inclusion, representation and participation in national affairs. It is a framework principle for discussions and activities that are aimed at furthering the short, medium and long-term interests and aspirations of the Kenya Diaspora community in the con- text of Kenya’s development. We call on all Diaspora Kenyans, parties and individuals seeking elective office to take action to build progressive Diaspora policies that will support the millions of Kenyans living in the Diaspora, their efforts and pursuits.
Disclosure: Kenya Diaspora Development Forum (KDDF) is a non-partisan organization whose main focus is promoting the progress through expanding collaboration between the Kenya Diaspora community, national and transnational partners. KDDF-MN is neither a subsidiary of any organization nor an extension of any political organization.