ONET – WESTERN KENYA REGIONAL BRACH – 2012/13

CONCEPT PAPER ON THE PROVISION OF LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR MOBILE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS AND DISRIBUTION OF ID/CARDS

1. BACKGROUND:

ONET (One Kenya Network Team), or as popularly referred to Orange

Networking Team (ONet).

ONET is a nationwide team of ODM enthusiasts who originally founded and operated as VAN (Volunteers Action Network for Raila) during the run up to the 2007 General Elections ONET has been registered by the Registrar of Societies Reg. Cert No—dated ---. Their participation and contribution as VAN spoke for themselves. Lessons learnt and experiences gathered from the last general elections coupled with the realization of the current constitutional dispensation, provide a revelation that trends in the Kenyan socio-political arena have changed drastically. Backed by in-depth understanding of the nature and orientation of diverse Kenyan people, ONet sees huge potential that can and must be harnessed in order to thrust the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) political party into power.

In keeping in step with the spirit of devolved system of governance as enshrined in the new constitution ONet has devolved its management and governance and organizational structure and created a regional branch for Western Kenya. This branch covers a total of 19 counties drawn from parts of the Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western Provinces. The counties covered under the Western Kenya region include Kericho, Bomet, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Vihiga, Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma, Pokot, Transnzoia, uasigishu, Nandi, Turkana, Baringo and Narok. The Western Kenya Region ONET leadership is championed by:

i. Eng. Davis Owino - Chairman

ii. Mr. Michael Oketch - Vice Chairman

iii. Mr. Dalmas Owino - Secretary

iv.Fred Wagah – Treasurer/Mobilizer

ONet has coalesced together to;

a) Strategically mobilize more and more people to register as voters. Research carried out by ONet on the trend voter turn in the past elections revealed an average of 62% in areas that were of strategic interest to ODM. The research findings also revealed increased voter apathy and disillusionment. The events that followed the contested presidential results of the 2007 general elections did not make things better for ODM. Voters are marooned in a state of uncertainty, not knowing which direction to take. In conclusion the voter must be continuously encouraged and get reassured from very close proximity.

b) Increase the tempo for recruitment of the population into the ODM membership hence expand the base for ODM fraternity by articulately propagating the party policies and Manifesto so as to enable the population clearly identify the potential accruing benefits from an ODM win in the oncoming general elections (the first under the new constitution).

c) Having researched on the demographic characteristics of the Kenyan population, ONet aims at strategically endearing the ODM party, largely, to the young people. This effort will not only help ensure continuity of the party but will also help assure the young population understand that in ODM their concerns will be accommodated and addressed through the framework of an inclusive action plan

d) Help the party enhance its grassroots networks. This is borne out of the 2007 Election experiences where ODM presidential votes were stolen largely due to lack of honest, courageous, dedicated and true party supporters to man the voting process (voter assistance, and vote counting). Upon securing accreditation to the ODM Headquarters and the Presidential Campaign Secretariat, ONet expects to seek registration with the IEBC to perform the task of monitoring the electoral process in the interest of ODM.

In pursuit of the above, the ONet branch has held meetings with a number of District Registrars of persons with the view to establishing the basic data on the extent of the backlog on registration of persons and distribution/collection of the ready National Identity Cards. The meetings were also intended to help identify areas of possible collaboration between ONet and the respective Registrars in order to enhance the rate of registration and dist6ribution of the National Identity Cards that are crucial for voter registration.

According to Mr. Ochieng’ (DRP – Kisumu East District) the backlog was huge that not easy to manage from within the resources allocated by the state alone. For instance he cited an example whereby they office had planned to conduct four mobile registration exercises every week but hardly did one in a month. The main reason advanced was inadequate logistical support (these include fuel to run the vehicles for mobile registration, lunch allowances for registration clerks and supervisors and airtime to send short messages to persons whose cards were ready for collection). The same position was corroborated by similar sentiments expressed by the District Registrars of Kisumu North (George); Kisumu West (Madam Christine); Muhoroni (Madam Grace); Nyakach (Madam Regline and Nyando (Madam Lillian) all whom said the situation was the same in their districts, as at a joint meeting held in Kisumu on Thursday 06^th September 2012.

ONet regional team is committed to working with area ODM structures and the relevant government departments to make a contribution towards enhancing the process of registration of persons and subsequently voter registration. The branch members are in the process of contributing funds and other necessary resources to facilitate effective implementation of the plans. When sufficient funds are realized ONet will enter into a formal understanding with the Registrar of persons whereby ONet will undertake to provide limited budgetary support as per budget while the Registrar’s office will undertake to provide the technical personnel and equipment. However it is feared that the economic challenges that the members are faced with might make it take too long to mobilize sufficient resources to mount strong campaigns in good time.

2. MTHODOLOGY:

• ONet will work with the ODM structures in the counties of focus.

• ONet will facilitate transportation of registration personnel to perform mobile registration of persons and distribution of ready Identity Cards.
• ONet will second one person to each team of registration clerks to take records of the execution process and performance each day and reporting.
• Will conduct continuous fundraising to build strong resource base that would facilitate effective realization of its objective.
• ONet will provide limited budgetary allocation to the respective registrars to facilitate mobile registration of persons and ID distribution.
• In cases where the District registrars will not be having a mobile vehicle ONet will consider hiring transport for such cases.
• ONet will facilitate provision of subsistence allowance to personnel sent on field work.
• ONet will facilitate provision of equipment for documentation including notebooks, pens, digital camera and where possible video coverage.
• The initial phase of the programme will run for two months where ONet will work in only two districts of each county bringing to a total number of 38 districts of coverage.
• In each chosen district, only 4 locations will be selected in the initial phase on the basis of worst case scenario bringing to a total of 152 locations of focus.
• Each mobile team will comprise seven persons and a supervisor (according to the District Registrars). ONet will second one person to monitor the process and do documentation
• One weekly mobile registration/distribution exercises will be conducted in each of the four locations..
• ONet will provide limited financial support to the District Registrars to facilitate sending of short messages to persons whose ID Cards were ready for collection.
• ONet has the capacity and networks to facilitate improved efficiency in voter registration and civic education across the region.
• ONet will seek financial support from the Presidential Campaign Secretariat, ODM Secretariat and other well wishers.
• Other than conducting civic education of the population, ONet will organize and conduct civic education targeting the new constitution, ODM constitution and the Party Manifesto. Research would also be done on comparative manifestos of major competing political parties. This aspect will require public address systems and reliable means of transport. In this respect two strong 4-wheel drive vehicles are proposed.

3. WHAT WE HAVE DONE:

• Inaugurated the Western Branch office in June 2012

• Renter a house to provide office space for the Secretariat of the branch
• Established network teams in 14 of the 19 Counties in the region
• Participated in the launch of the Hamisi Cultural festival
• Participated in the Home Coming Ceremony of ODM party Chairman in Kapsabet
• Participated in the launch of the Gusii voter mobilization and civic education
• Monitored the ODM Nomination exercise in Ndhiwa Constituency towards the just conclude By-Election

4. CHALLENGES:

• Inadequate resources

• Limited personnel capacities
• Lack of necessary materials (IEC)
• Unhealthy competition among the lobbies groups for the party/smear campaigns

5. BUGETARY PROPOSAL:
1. Support to Civil Registration of person:

Consider:

• Each Supervisor @ KES 1000 per day x 4 x 4 x 5 = 80,000
• Each clerk @KES 750 x 7 = KES 5250 x 4 x 4 x 5 = 420,000
• Short messages @ KES 3000 per registrar per month = 3000 x 4 x 4 x 5 = 15,000
• Fuel support @ KES 2500 per trip = 2500 x 4 x 4 x 5 = 200,000
• Vehicle hire 10% of the mobile periods @ KES 9,000 per day = KES 72,000
• Communication and documentation (lump sum) @ KES 15,000 Therefore total unit cost per District in 5 months will be = KES 802,000

By projection, the branch shall require for 5months a total of KES 31,278,000

2. CIVIC EDUCATION:

• Purchase of 2 x 4Wheel drive vehicles (Prado) @ KES 6Million = KES 12,000,000

• Fuel for two vehicles @ KES 60,000 per vehicle per month = KES 600,000
• Allowances for Civic educators for 90 sessions in 45 constituencies @ KES 4000 per person per day = KES 720,000
• Training materials - Lump sum @ KES 5000/session = 450,000
• Communication and documentation – Lump sum @ 2000 = KES 180,000
• Advertisements through electronic and print media, posters, Churches, fliers etc – lump sum @ KES 3000 = KES 270,000
• Public Address System 2 Sets @ KES 100,000 = KES 200,000
• Venue/ Tent hire 90 @ KES 2000 = KES 180,000

Total cost of civic education = KES 14,600,000

Grand Total = KES 45,878,000

HOW YOU MAY SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE:

• Tell other well wishers about us
• Provide direct support to us either in cash or kind with due regard to the listed items of cost in this concept paper
• Volunteer you own time to facilitate any/some of the listed activities as per your talent/capacity
• Provide additional strategic advice to the us that may help enhance effectiveness and realization of the objectives
• Link us to any potential funding partners
• Join and be our member or associate

Detailed work plan has been drawn to guide implementation of the programme and could be shared on request.

Physical address:

The secretariat of ONet Western Kenya Branch is based in Kisumu in a rental house adjacent Vunduba Annex Hotel and opposite Upper Railway estate

Banks Account details:

Name of Bank – Bank of Africa

Branch – Kisumu

Account name – ONE KENYA NETWORK TEAM (ONET)

Account No 0656010000

Bank Signatories:

1. Davies Owino – Chairman - Tel 0733 832994
2. Dalmas Owino – Secretary - Tel 0722 742628
3. Fred Waga – Treasurer – Tel 07201 684431
4. Ms Helen Otieno – Member – Tel 0725 495024

Concept prepared by:

1. Davies Owino Dalmas Owino Fred Waga

Chairman Secretary Treasurer