From: odhiambo okecth
PRESS RELEASE – 4th SEPTEMBER 2010
VUGU VUGU MASHINANI-STAYING WITH THE ISSUES!!
Vugu Vugu Mashinani is an initiative that seeks to rally Kenyans behind issues when electing leadership. With the new constitutional dispensation, we need to complement a good constitution with visionary leadership.
Kenyans have never kept with the issues when determining leadership, the reason this country lags behind in all aspects of life, economically, socially and politically. We must change this and Vugu Vugu Mashinani has embarked on a journey to change attitudes and a mind shift from our traditional “issues” of hero worship of corrupt, visionless and tribalistic leaders.
In this new dispensation, with counties envisaged and devolution a reality, Kenyans must ensure that the yardstick for electing leaders shifts from clanism, tribalism, nepotism, cronyism, and materialism to the issues that will move these counties to a level of development that will create jobs, fight corruption, reduce poverty, improve infrastructure and fight impunity at all levels.
In this new endeavor, we will move from the boardrooms into the Mashinanis, where we will engage the Kenyans in identifying and determining issues and staying with them irrespective of affiliations that have crowded our politics viz negative ethnicity and political parties.
Vugu Vugu Mashinani will engage in a new way of doing things, engaging Kenyans on staying with Kenyan issues, this will be done through bringing together civil society groups, community groups, mobilize Kenyans at home and in Diaspora so that together we can determine our issues and seek to resolve them through credible, pragmatic, proactive, nationalistic, inclusive and non corruptible leadership.
At the centre of all this will be the Kenyan themselves, initiating, supporting and driving this endeavor just like we have done with this launch which has been fully supported and funded by Kenyans themselves.
Interim Organizing Office-
Otieno Sungu-Co-Convenor
Evans Machera-Co-Convenor
Odhiambo Oketch-Co-Convenor
Elijah Kombo-Co-Convenor/Treasurer.
Dickens Mitawia-Member
Millicent Odhiambo-Member
Benji Ndolo-Member
From: otieno sungu
Subject: Re: Vugu Vugu Mashinani- Launched; 4th Sept 2010-Appreciation and thanks
Today the 4th of September, we successfully launched Vugu Vugu Mashinani, so that we can begin staying with the issues, this is an initiative that will endeavor to ensure Kenyans stay with issues when electing leadership. Like we said before, we are going to be inclusive in our approach and seek to partner with institutions, organizations, civil society, NGOs, professional groups, religious leaders and the general public in identifying the issues and ensuring we stay with them in this new dispensation after successfully adopting a good constitution.
I would like to, on behalf of the organizing committee, acknowledge the representation and participation of the following groups among others;
· Youth Agenda
· Clarion.
· Bunge La Mwananchi
· Kejude
· World Social Congress
· Peace Caravan
· Sodnet
· Awaaz Magazine
· Centre for Governance and Development (CGD) in partnership with Fredrick Ebert Stiftung.
· Egerton and Nairobi University students.
We look forward to bringing together civil society, professional groups, religious leaders, pragmatic political parties and other interest groups to identify our leadership issues and stay with them into the elections of Civic Leaders, Senators, Governors, MPs, the President in this new dispensation so that we begin reaping the fruits of good leadership right from the Counties to the central government complementing a good constitution.
To this end, we must begin dismantling the pulling apart of especially civil society so that we begin pulling and pooling together in one direction, staying with issues that the Kenyan people wish resolved and seeking these solutions together.
With the very insightful discussions from the various participants and representatives of these groups and professionals from various walks of life, especially the many lawyers who took us through the implementation process and how we can be involved, we came up with very concrete steps on the way forward which shall be shared shortly once the organizing team has fine tuned the minutes.
Together with the minutes, a comprehensive accounting of the funds received will be done and the Treasurer, Elijah Kombo is already working on all the expenses incurred and after settling everything, we will give these details, along with the minutes by close of business on Tuesday the 7th September 2010.
We have begun a journey of rallying Kenyans behind their issues, owning and supporting their initiatives, the least we can do in appreciation is to account for every cent that came into our hands, this is a promise we intend to keep and this is how we will do things as we walk along together in this journey.
Lastly, to all who sent in support, I want to assure you it was worth it, you will be reading the powerful presentations, discussions and resolutions and you can bet it will be worth your sacrifice.
We have a concrete way forward. The next level is moving into the counties to take these leadership issues there!
Regards all and God Bless,
Otieno Sungu.
Convenor.
VuguVugu-Mashinani-Staying with the Issues!!!!!
NB: May I also take this opportunity to recognize the good work done by Dr. Matunda Nyanchama whose name was inadvertently missed out in our earlier Press Release, he is a member of the managing team whose input led to the success of this initiative. I apologise for the ommission.
Two books recently published were also unveiled to the membership of Vugu Vugu Mashinani and the General Public,
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Intergrity in Kenya’s Public Service;Illustrations from Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing edited by Joshua Kivuva and Morris Odhiambo of Clarion/National Civil Society Congress.
*
Institutionalizing Political Parties in Kenya-Kennedy Masime-Centre for Governance and Development(CGD) in partnership with Fredrick Ebert Stiftung.
These are a must read for any Kenyan who wants to know the issues and stay with them!!!!
How encouraging. true that we most certainly held ransom to the leadership we accredit.
Blessup
Arne
I thought it was a joke..bring it up guys!!