I have just arrived at the hotel after a four hour journey from Accra, Ghana.

On this second trip to this part of West Africa, I am still amazed at how different these two neighbouring countries are.
The language: anglophone in Ghana and Francophone in Togo. The social economic status: it is "clean" and paved in Accra, organized as one heads into Aflao border town through the Volta region in Ghana: and dusty and busy across Afrlao into Lome in Togo.

The Immigration office on the Ghana side has uniformed staff, computers, desks and chairs for us emigrant. Immigration forms are filled in an air conditioned room that for the most part is as pleasant an atmospher as immigration in Africa can get. Today, in what I considered and exceptional situation, an immigration officer filled in my form. All he needed from me was a signature (and 2 cidis!!) But like I say, exceptional.

The crossover into Togo - it is easy to miss the Immigration desk.  Basically, the Immigration officer is a guy seated under a shed.  He was pleasant enough, and since Kenya and Togo diplomatic relations are not advanced, I have to pay CFA 15,000 (about USD 34) for a visa. As a Kenyan, and coming out of Ghana, the expectation to fill in an Immigration card. However, these are not necessary for entry into Togo. I only need to fill in a Visa Application. Thankfully, it is both in English and French. It turns out though that my ability to fill a form is limited as the Immigration officer has to make a few changes before he finally tells me "sign here" and he collects the CFA 15,000. I was hoping to see a cash box and receive a receipt. Instead, I got two (postage) stamps in my passport and several different ink stamps that filled one page of my passport. I gasped in shock with every stamp the Officer picked. There are an unbelievable number of stamps required to enter this small country.

Another big difference between Ghana and Togo are the vehicles. Both countries boast good road infrastructure, tarmac (asphalt) road network through major towns. However, in Accra there are high end motor vehicles. In Lome, this are less visible. Actually, the last time I was here (in May) I think I counted the number of BMWs because they stick out like a sore thumb.  The other significant difference is the public transport system.

In Ghana, there are the taxis and trotros. Like anywhere in the World, PSV drivers are somewhat crazy but it is all quite impressively organized in Accra and the Volta region where I drove through. In Togo, there are taxis but mostly there are motorcycles. Everywhere. There are motorcycles everywhere. In fact it is possible to imagine the roads were built for motorcycles rather than motor vehicles. They are everywhere. And at the traffic lights, they command the pride of place up front. They are everywhere.

I love the food - spicy, healthy portions for goat light soup and fufu; kelewele (fried plantain); banku and fried tilapia; and so much more tasty food that I cannot pronounce.

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The majority of Kenya's population is under 35 years of age.

The majority of the population is female.

Most Kenyans live in rural areas, although the rate of urbanization is quite high and this will soon change.

A large portion of Kenya's population has 8 years of formal education and less than 3% is university educated.  And even with university education, a significant proportion is unemployed.

The rate of inflation has increased to double digits, and is at about 15% in Kenya today. Economists know better what to attribute this to but for most Kenyans it means life is ever more expensive.
To wake up in the morning and leave one's abode is a costly affair - if you are on foot, at some point you will need to sit down, rest and eat something. It costs 10 shillings more than it did last week; if you find something under 100 shillings.  I will not even go into the fact that getting a job, even a temporary one is difficult. And with the power rationing schedule will mean even more jobless skilled and semi-skilled young men and women in industrial areas across the country.

Kenya is struck by another season of drought which has resulted in a famine situation which could have mitigated by a proactive Government.  Just to clarify, drought is an extended period of time whether months or years where a region has deficient water supply, often as a result of less than average rainfall. It is all about Mother Nature. Famine on the other hand, whether argued as an event or a process is about scarcities that lead to people dying of starvation. It can be averted.

Pundits on social media in Nairobi are concerned that the media frenzy about the famine situation in Northern Kenya is triggered by a need to make the Government “look bad”, featuring starving people trooping to food camps – the pundits claim these are mostly Somalis. Some media have been featuring famine in part of the country not so close to Somalia such as Pokot, Turkana and parts of upper Eastern. The Government needed no help in making itself “look bad”. Several months ago the Special Programmes Minister declared that there was no crisis even as she set up a toll free number to enables citizens make an SOS call in the event that hunger bites.  In subsequent media interviews, she indicated that the situation was under control. Other news reports indicated that there were sufficient food reserves, it was simply a matter of distribution should the situation require it.

Kenya’s policy makers, technocrats and political leaders are well educated and widely travelled. In Kenya today, we have more sophisticated systems and human resource base more knowledgeable than ever before. How is it that anyone can accept that a section of the population, whether citizens or guests of the state, go hungry? Women and children emaciated and exhausted given rations of food in gunny bags by representatives of Government – two Presidential hopefuls (one being the Vice President no less, the other a former Minister for Agriculture) and a Cabinet Minister.   These “leaders” of the present Government standby hungry people in their county, who suffer hunger under their watch, 48 years into celebrating our sovereignty as a nation-state.

No man, woman or child should die for lack of food in Kenya. No excuses. Shame on us.

The outlook for Kenya is dire with regard to basic issues of sustenance. As we got into election mode, the promise of a rosy future by aspirants of political office will distract many of us.

Young people in Kenya in particular must not forget to ask the important questions, seek a track record in positive impact of every aspirant. Citizen accountability begins with vetting those who seek our support to political office. Citizen accountability rests on every young person to ensure that those in office now and those seeking to continue to be in public office can demonstrate how they will address urbanization, access to education that builds skills for employability, growing the economy to increase job and entrepreneurial possibilities for skilled and semi-skilled labour force that mostly young, food security for everyone within the borders of Kenya’s territory, and political leadership and policy makers that are responsive and empathetic to citizens well being.  Citizen accountability is the responsibility of every Kenyan who abides by the Constitution promulgated in August 2010.

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I had of course read about Kenya's Muthoni Likimani, former Kenyan MP and Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai in "Unbowed",  (now Secretary of State) First Lady Hillary Clinton's "Living History", and as I catch up on keeping this resolution I have read of the late Palestine Prime Minister and this month caught up with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf "This Child Shall be Great". I will shortly embark on the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi biography.

The greatness of these women is in part about themselves, their passion and focus. Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai for instance was considered a "mad woman" with her "crazy" passion for trees and nature. Who does that? Fight for open green spaces in an urban areas, in spite of the threats of violence and high values bribes? And in a continued quest for justice because part of a political processes that encourages citizens to speak up for their rights. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton similarly spoke up about injustices in the 60s an 70s. As I read about her life, I concluded that former US President Bill Clinton was lucky to have her by his side, otherwise she could have run against him for President. She is a woman with credentials of her own even before she became First Lady and was truly a credible candidate for the US Presidency in 2007.

The current Liberian President faces a re-election later this year (2011). I had the privilege to visit Monrovia, Liberia in May 2011 and then read her autobiography. Reading about the resources in Liberia, the devastation caused by intermittent civil strife and the processes that led to the ceasefire and ultimately general elections in which civilians and political parties participated, and the changes that have happened in Liberia I am in awe of President Sirleaf. She was an unlikely candidate for President. If one looked at her CV, one wonders where she found the time or the need to be an activist or play politics.  But she did so actively throughout the adult life.

My lessons from these women so far:
1. Speak your mind tactfully and intelligently.
2. If your relationship does not work, deal with it and move on. (All of them were married and have children. Muthoni Likimani, Wangari Mathai and Ellen Sirleaf are officially divorced)
3. Be the change. All of these were consistent in the principles and values they espoused in how they lived their public and private lives.(at least according to the bios)
4. Get and education.

I know there are still many more brilliant women to learn from. As soon as I catch up with Indira Gandhi I will be rummaging through the bookshops for more.

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The ruling by the Kenya National Assembly speaker on the nomination process for the Chief Justice, Director of Public Prosecution and Attorney General was common sense. When parties consult, it is important to reach some agreement; sometimes parties agree to disagree as the conclusion. In this case, one party completed overlooked the consultative discussions and prematurely concluded the process. In the end, it was only on side that made the nominations. The chest thumping by MPs against the Speaker will not win them any points among Kenyans. We appreciate the wisdom and sobriety of the Speaker, as the Chair of the National Assembly.

The President and the Prime Minister must be faulted here. In the aftermath of the violence witnessed in 2008, it should be unconsciousable to both of them to create such tension and animosity in Kenya, as characterised by the Parliamentarians shenanigans.We know that often times, the MPs operate on "'mob psychology"' which is typically unreasonable and much like a speeding train, unstoppable. The threats by one section of MPs to pull out of the Grand Coalition was myopic and a bad show of their appreciation of the reasons that resulted in a Grand Coalition government in the first place. This situation was not a matter of choice for Kenya. Citizens made their choice at the ballot box. This was contested and the result was unprecedented violence. MPs continuously make this a power game and have made little effort as leaders within their communities to address the underlying issues that would lead Kenya to be more united and subsequently more prosperous. Indeed, the spark more anti-agenda 4 sentiments and seem to tirelessly work against the principles of the National Accord.

 One aspiring presidential candidate has now challenged the Prime Minister to a popularity contest, following the Speaker's ruling on the unconstitutionality of the nominations for the judicial offices. This is not a contest about "who is the man?"'.  This is not a contest at all. 

The display by Parliamentarians during the course of discussions at Parliamentary Committee levels was disturbingly partisan, unreasonable and illogical. Yet this is only the first among several milestones towards the implementation of the new Constitution promulgated on 4 August 2010. Kenya clearly has a long, difficult road ahead towards making this reality.

 God watch over us.

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Sometimes we make regrettable decisions. We are only able to see the possible tell-tell signs in hindsight. Last December 2010, I made the mistake of not conducting a sufficient background check on the venue of an important meeting that I intended to host in January 2011.  The result – I was held against my will for three and a half days at a hotel where only days before I was a paying client.

In the past, reservations for training workshops have been conducted by telephone with the appropriate contact person at the hotel. A quick internet search confirms it exists, gives snapshots of the facility (which I have learnt to downgrade about 280 degrees to get the accurate picture). I even seek references from colleagues, friends of partner organizations located in that town.

Most times, we meet the facility manager for the first time on the eve of the training workshop, upon our arrival and long after a 50% deposit has been paid by our organization.  In the last four years, this approach has worked relatively well.  Any hitches with regard to bed space, hall arrangement, food menu or other issues have been handled swiftly on site.

I believe I understand the basic standards and business policy of hotels in Kenya as key facilities in our hospitality and service industry.

However, this January 2011, I have learnt a new set of lessons from a certain hotel in Coast (name withheld).  The facility suffered a tragic attack, several years ago. The hotel re-opened and at the time of our booking, was under new management – Kenyan owner, a former member of parliament. 

So, here is the first lesson: it is important to casually ask who owns the hotel; the track record in the particular industry you are contracting the service and possibly the ethnic background. I am yet to assure myself that the latter is a critical criterion, but I will let it stay for now.

My second lesson is with regard to business policy. See here, all I have learnt from the said hotel.

Business Policy #1: Never refuse new business

Irrespective of whether or not you have the capacity or the ability to manage. Lie if you must. Source business by any means necessary. Afterall, sales targets are about money in the bank not service delivery. That is someone else’s problem (see business policy #2).  Full disclosure to a potential client only allows them to make an informed decision which may not necessary work in your favour.

Business Policy #2: No one takes responsibility

Whether the title is General Manager, Sales & Marketing Manager, Accountant or Director, any information required by the client or decision that needs to be made must be referred to someone else. Never mind that it should fall within your job description.  It is always someone else’s lack of communication that has caused the error and its resolution requires consultation --- someone else. If the client is pushy, simply say “me, I don’t know about that” or for full effect, give the client a blank look “I’ll get back to you” or seek the ultimate authority “let me talk to the Director”.

Business Policy #3: Management by the remote decision maker

Every business should be able to run without the presences of the ultimate authority on site. This is why there are job descriptions, duties and responsibilities assigned. There is no need for the director to get to know every client directly, understand their business or verify the information they were provided with regard to contractual issues or service delivery.

From the remote location as Director and decision maker, to demonstrate being fully in charge still limit the ability of the managers on site to make discretionary decisions. They must abide by the business policy or else feel your wrath. Management by intimidation (or is it upward consultation only); you make the decision especially when you do not know the client, did not finalize the deal and have not done a background check on them. Let the managers call you as often as they need to, be the go-between with the client – no matter how annoying or frustrating it is on both sides.

And when the client is calling you, ignore their calls or turn off your phone, you are a busy wo/man afterall.

Business Policy #4: Have no standards

Ok, maybe that is too harsh. It might be a case of having minimum to low (acceptable?) standards and build from there.  The facility is under new management and thus no matter what it is the client expects may have expected, they must live with what we have; and pay for it – even if not receive it. Afterall, with business policy #1, the client is convinced, so why the big fuss?

As a hotel, of course there is a menu for the duration of your stay – we just will not show it to you.

We do have a rooming list, we will attach a copy of the invoice – but you must note you’re people keep changing rooms. We make them share 5 in one room, but they move to a room with two or three people.

We did order more seats added to our magnificently wood carved ones to cater for your large numbers as a client – what exactly is wrong with plastic undressed chairs in the dining area?

We have secured a top notch chef form a top notch hotel in Nairobi – he just cannot boil rice or potatoes for 100 people (all the white mushy stuff on day 1 was later distinguished as rice, mashed potatoes and ugali); on day 3, our cultural and gala night the rice was undercooked; on day 3 of my detention, the boiled potatoes were undercooked.

We have adequate cutlery – how many clients actually distinguish a salad fork or the dessert fork, aren’t they all for eating?

And there is water in all the rooms – even if you complain – there is water in all the rooms.

Make apologies for any inconveniences and offer the client a free holiday.

Things will get better because surely, there is no way they can go down.

Business Policy #5: Do not brief the waiters or housekeeping

In most hotels, clients will often see a briefing session usually in the restaurant where all the waiters are gathered. The Housekeeper also knows how many guests are in the hotel, the number per room and manages each room accordingly. This practice is a waste of time let the waiters and housekeeping staff deal directly with the clients. Refer to business policy #2.

Business Policy #6: Kulala na kulipa “pap”

Irrespective of whether we have provided a final satisfactory invoice, pay up and on site. The client must make arrangements to have signed, blank cheques at hand so that in the end the amount charged by the hotel upon service delivery is fully paid. And if it is above Kshs 1m, be sure to have several cheque leafs so that you can write out denomination of KShs 0.5 + KShs 0.4 + KShs 0.3m.

With a booking for over 100 people for four nights, we will simply charge you for every day based on the number booked. Irrespective of available bed space (please refer to business policy #1), or the actual number of guests we provided for.

Business Policy #7: Do not extend credit

We do not provide credit especially to clients we do not know. We do not make reference to a relationship with any of the managers (refer to business policy #1, 2 and 3).  We do not wish to build new relationships with clients who possibly enjoyed our facility, nor do we encourage repeat business.  If you pay now, perhaps we can extend credit to you next time.

The LPO or any down-payment made is not sufficient to demonstrate willingness and/or ability of the client to pay.

This is irrespective of the provision of Company Law and contract law which provides for how to deal with credit and/or defaulters.

Business Policy #8: Detain the new/unknown client

If the client does not immediately sign cheques on site, any person suspected of having links with the corporate client him/her agent until the bill is fully paid.

Make no reference to a dealing making conversation with the sales manager, downpayment made by the client.   Business policy #3 is in effect.

Business Policy #9: Cheque in Hand is better than cash in Bank

To confirm payment, the Director or agent must have in hand the full payment by the client. Forget the Bank Regulations with regard to electronic fund transfers, the client must abide by your business policy or else.  A copy of a signed cheque, scanned and sent by email does not suffice. Walk into the client’s bank if necessary and see the stamped cheque.

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 1. Affirmative action for young people with disability in tertiary institutions of learning

• Improve infrastructure to enable easy movement of students with disability, especially the physically disabled. Although not discussed, this should also include infrastructure that aids the deaf and the blind to access information.
• Provision of more scholarships and bursaries, particularly by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

• In addition to loans, make available bursaries

• Proactively collect information on schools where teenage mothers are prevented from returning to the classroom and ensure that they are able to do so (this is based on an example given on a case in Kilifi. the Education Secretary indicated that "it is a countrywide problem"

5. Review of the primary and secondary school education curriculum in line with new opportunities and civic education on the citizens rights and responsibilities under the new constitutional framework. In particular issues leadership, ethics and values should be re-introduced to the social education and ethics curriculum.

The matrix submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister and circulated to the line ministries included important recommendations on increased learning and application of ICT.

Commitments:
1. The Ministry of Education agreed to host a Ministerial Stakeholder Forum within one month of the PMYRT. 

2.The Ministry noted that a special needs survey needs to be completed to determine the needs of young persons with disability in learning institutions before the bursary/scholarship support can be extended. Currently, they recevied loans and bursaries under similar terms as regular students.

3. ANDY, a youth NGO, committed to compliment HELB support to students with disability by providing additional bursaries.

4. ICL, a youth NGO, committed to support the review of the education curriculum to include up to date and relevant information on sex education.

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In the inaugural Prime Minister's Round Table meeting with youth on Wednesday 24 November 2010, key participants from Government included the Prime Minister, the Minister for Public Service, the Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and the Assistant Minister for Medical Services. They were flanked by the Permanent Secretaries from the respective ministries.  Interestingly, it was at this meeting that youth heard of a Youth Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister, whose credentials and reputation is unknown to those in youth development.

The Session on Health and Education was attended by some 35 youth representatives and was co-chaired by this author from KCDF Youth Programme, the Education Secretary Prof Godia, a representative from the Ministry of Public Health Mr Ibrahim Maalim and Mr Walter Okok a Sector Board member on Health and Education from the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).

The discussions made recommendations for Government to consider and sought commitments from Government which were not easily forthcoming. It is anticipated that commitments will be made during a meeting with permanent secretaries and youth representatives based on the recommendations made on the week of 28 November 2010.

The key recommendations on Health:
1. To address risky sexual behaviour among young people, with a particula focus on those aged 15 - 24 years whom research indicates are the most vulnerable

• Integration of sexual and reproductive health information into the ongoing HIV/AIDS awareness and prevent campaigns. Funding through the AIDS Control Council and other MDAs should also encompass sexual and reproductive health issues.
• Public health facilities should provide youth friendly services including information specifically for young people, professionals who are sensitive to young people's shyness and secrecy; facilities that are friendly; and ease of access to ARVs. The youth friendly services should be increased from the current 12% to at least 80%.
• Public health facilties constructed or restructured to be able to address rehabilitation from alcohol and substance abuse; as well as provide information to young people on this issue.
• Public health campaigns should be conducted to increasingly sensitize young people on emerging yet preventable lifestyle illnesses such as diabetes and cancer
  

• Of particular concern are the quacks whom young people find more accessible based on their locations in the neighbourhoods and lower costs. However, they lack the professional ethics to maintain confidentiality
• There should be campaigns in formal and informal setting to manage population growth

• Government must make aware the locations and services provided by the 48 established youth empowerment centres. This will increase appreciation of young people on Government promises delivered; and enable more young people take advantage of these facilities. Many other agencies can also make available relevant information to young people through these centre.
• The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) OGA facility must be disseminated to youth groups countrywide.

Commitments:
1. The Ministry of Public Health committed to hosting youth present to a Ministerial Stakeholders Forum within two weeks following the PMYRT to discuss the action points.

2. I Choose Life (ICL), a youth organization of university students working in communities on HIV/AIDS campaigns committed to provide support that compliment Government efforts on health education by sharing data and information to enable comprehensive and relevant policy on sex education in schools.

3. Other youth organizations agreed that they do and should compliment Government efforts; and provide information on their initiatives but required a structured way to do so such as a youth desk at the line Ministry district office or a reporting format.

P.S: The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has published a Youth Factbook which provides facts and figures on youth development in Kenya

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The Round Table focussed on four discussion issues: Youth Empowerment, Health and Education, Creative Arts and Sports, Leadership and Governance.  These four thematic areas were identified based on credible background information including several conventions hosted by young people since 1997 under the banner of the National Youth Conventions 1- 4, the recent National Youth Forums (2009 and 2010); discussions with young people in 2001 during the Poverty Reduction Strategy Process (PRSP) through the Youth Thematic Group; consultations with youth nationwide during the development of the National Youth Policy between 1997 and 2006; baseline information that resulted in the Youth Enteprise Development Fund, strategic documents and project activities implemented by youth organizations across the country.

Inevitably, questions were raised about the credibility of the process and who was consulted. But, the fact was there was nothing new submitted to the PM Round Table. In fact, the initiators of the Forum focussed on the simple agenda: to directly access Government and lobby implementation of policies and strategies developed for youth empowerment. For me, it was less about the consultative process that brought young people in direct contact with Government but more about knowing that now young people had moved several steps ahead in being able to negotiate with Government at the highest level. Any view besides this achievement would be short sighted.

Among the issues raised by young people and Government for years, is the need for a formal structure for young people to engage Government. The National Youth Council Act took 10 years from development, finalization and Presidential Assent. The coordinating Ministry twic postponed the requisite election citing financial and logistical challenges. This simple serves to further delay Government's direct engagement with youth. Thus, this intervention was timely and nothing stops it being the open space in which the National Youth Council (once it is eventually established) consults young people and negotiates on specific issues with Government and civil society organizations on a regular basis.

Following this inaugural and landmark half day meeing, the conveners will meet technocrats in the Office of the Prime Minister and Permanent Secretaries of the key ministries to agree on commitments of Government and actionable points within the 100-day Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) and in time for the next Prime Minister Youth Roundtable scheduled for February 2011.

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Since I have virtually discussed this, the important question is whether I or others have done anything about both the negative aspects or to push forward the positive.

On the devolved system of Government, others have began to act. Indeed, many Kenyans see the opportunities that taking Government and resources closer to citizens portends. For politicians it creates more spaces in which to have power. In not less than 10 counties, political leaders have convened meetings in which they have discussed how to design the county system and prepare the electorate for devolved Government. In doing so, they also have began to assign themselves and each other political positions.

The Nation Media Group, one of Kenya's oldest and largest media house, has began reporting from the respective counties. Every weekend NTV broadcasts from a specific county and have so far covered Kiambu, West Pokot, Kitui and Mombasa. They have generally received positive reviews. In my view, this system of reporting tells me that for every young person, there exists an opportunity in the media. In order to cover a single county, the equivalent of a media house as we know them today must exist. At the very least this means 50 new jobs created in 47 counties within the next five years by at least 3 serious media houses. For those corporations that seek to increase their market share, advertisements on media with the widest network follow thus more advertising agencies and agents as well as more jobs created in these corporations to serve the growing market.

I think of the places I have been to in the last few months: Barpello in East Pokot District; Kinna in Garbatulla District (now Isiolo County), Runyejes in Embu county where young women and men are full of hope that their aspirations can come true. In part they vest the possibility of achievement in me who they see as the face of a funder in that moment.  Yet even in what can be seen by an urban born dweller as nothingness, theirs is a tale of resourcefullness and camaraderie among young people literate and illiterate striving to improve their lot. In Barpello, a group of 25 women between the ages of 25 and 35 gather often to discuss how to ensure their children go to school, to ensure their daughters stay in school and thus will not be circumcised and to increase their pocket money without asking their husbands. These women are all married, have at least two children and most of them did not start or complete school. Yet they are inspiring in their clarity of vision and life choices for their children.  In Kinna, a group of Borana youth led by a vibrant 32-year old woman seek guidance of their elders in establishing a cultural village that will preserve and educate the youth and outsiders on the Borana culture. While theirs is not a particularly unique project in the area, the strong ties within the group members based on the shared vision is clear, touching and inspiring. Mind you, there is no real road to the cultural village and when she tells go straight...well, there is most likely a river and a bend in the road and small human settlement to drive through but still directions must be followed lest you lose your way completely.

While I complain about the quality of education, the places I have visited simply require some form of educational instituitions and any number of teachers as can possibly be deployed. In these places, I see the benefits that the devolved system will bring. With resources from public coffers and private sector investment increased in Barpello and in Kinna.  There really is no option but for growth and development in these areas.

The premature sign off here means I am off to a new place. I will blog on my visits to Malindi and Kilifi and this time I hope to talk about real progress from our work in youth development since 2007.

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Earlier this year, I posted here that Ayub Mwakesi was my hero of 2010. He was the young political campaigner and voter from Matuga Constituency in Coast Province who felt irked enough by the election results to take the declared Parliamentary contest winner and then Minister for Transport to Court. As a result of Ayub’s win of the election petition against the Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, the Speaker of the National Assembly declared the Matuga Parliamentary seat vacant and the Interim Independent Election Commission (IIEC) declared a by-election for Monday 12 July 2010.

The expectation of non-Matuga constituents it seems was that the immediate former MP was unpopular and was therefore unlikely to reclaim the seat. How wrong the assumption. The immediate former MP has won the by-election by a convincing majority. The election was declared “free and fair” by independent observers and the IIEC has been commended for a sterling job. In fact, the results from polling stations were submitted to the voting centre at Government Training Institute (GTI) and simultaneously to the IIEC headquarters in Nairobi electronically using mobile phone technology and was thus in real time and unadulterated.  The man won!

One interesting turn of events, and a rather disturbing one is that the constituents are openly confessing that they “sold” their vote to the highest bidder – this time the going rate has risen sharply from less than US$1 (or KShs 50) to US$ 40 (or KShs 3,000).  Thus, although the Election Court, in concluding the election petition within a realistic time frame, the Court was commended for moving with speed and declared a ruling that many considered “just” (afterall, it is common knowledge that the 2007 General Election in Kenya was botched, not free or fair anywhere in the country).

And as for voter education, after all, the mantra became “take the money, ensure that it is worth your while, but vote with your conscious”. And so they did.

This turn of events, not so much that Matuga constituents reinforced their initial selection but more that Kenyans continue to be poor, desperate and vulnerable to the extent that the power at the ballot means nothing but a meal (so said one contributor to a breakfast radio show on Tuesday 13 July 2010). I see this as “2 steps forward and 100km back”. And I fear for Kenya at the Referendum scheduled for 4 August 2010, with the push and pull, hate speech campaigning. I register my “total fear” for the 2012 General Elections.

God Protect Kenya.

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Today, I had opportunity. I met a few teachers and head teachers of prolific schools in Nairobi. The focus of discussion was the importance of community service in developing responsible, disciplined, holistic, value based individuals who become good citizens. This was in a forum hosted by Ufadhili Trust where I sit on the Board of Trustees. I had opportunity to share my thoughts, and especially those issues disturbing me on how students are educated and prepared for the “big bad world” and the workplace.  They had some interesting insights.

First, none of them became defensive, which is partly the response I had expected. Instead, they pointed out that society today is not the same as it was when I was in high school 15 or so years ago, or even 20 to 30 years ago. Young people today face the challenge of too much information from all sources and must manage this information, for the most part on their own. Secondly, the social and legal frameworks are very different today. In days gone, the teacher was the ultimate know all and be all. With the change in access to information and definitions of rights of individuals and children, teachers often find themselves barred by court orders on how to treat children, including reversing suspension orders. Thus, teachers have to constantly look over their shoulder and ensure that as they attempt to educate and mould the students, they also comply with new and more liberating laws.

Teachers and schools also have to contend with the political environment. The increasing democratic practice is also demanded by students in schools. Head-teachers find that it is more reasonable to address open forum rather than remain closed, or secretive in challenges of administration. In schools where this is applied based on clear rules of engagement there have been measured levels of success in school management and overall performance.  The downside is that politicians do not provide particularly good role models for students on how to lead, address and manage conflict or resolve issues.

I had also expected that the teachers and head-teachers present would come out with guns blazing about the role of absent parents. However, they seemed more concerned and understanding that the economic situation was dire and for the most part parents had a greater duty to ensure the child was able to stay in school in order to make a better living for him/herself in life. I should clarify that there was only one private school represented in a room with ten schools represented.

I shared with these teachers the challenges that I see in working with youth trying to implement projects. The limitations of communication skills both written and oral; poor presentation skills; limitations in etiquette and in some areas with little numeracy skills even by those who have completed “O” level education. The teachers did concede that there were deficiencies in the current curriculum but restricted themselves from critiquing it too much.

My greatest concern remains is that we are failing to educate Kenyan children to be responsible citizens. The focus of the school curriculum is on passing exams (which they agree is the measure of success for every school and head-teacher) without necessarily passing on numeracy and literacy skills. But these teachers have inspiring stories to share.

Stories of students demonstrating leadership, compassion, and academic excellence. And this is seen out of co-curricular programmes which the “brave” schools have initiated. “Brave” in the sense that they allow students a few hours away from books and do participate in activities within and outside school that run them the risk of poorer performance in national examinations. One teacher from Kenya High School says she recorded a straight A in 2006 as a result of Bill Lay’s mentoring 40 students under the Junior Achievement Kenya’ Company Programme. At Sunshine Secondary School, the Community Service Coordinator cum English teacher reported how students helped raise money for a fellow student whose family land had been auctioned – they helped the family purchase land and build a modest house; helping to set up their schoolmate with a modicum of hope for life. She also told us that students helped the school raise a significant portion of a KShs 2 million medical bill for one of the teachers – on a voluntary basis. In another school, we were told about students identifying an orphan girl and one of her classmates convincing parents to pay her fees and allow her spend the holidays in their home.

All is not lost. However, there must be intensified and structured efforts to balance the success of academics with development of the individual in a holistic way. Co-curricular initiatives that provide students with opportunities to identify and explore their talent must be part of the curriculum. Any teacher will tell you that there are those students for whom this component excites and triggers better academic performance. Thus,  even with these inspiring stories, I know we are not out of the woods yet.

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I am currently reading two newly launched research reports on education in Kenya. I am looking for a third recently released by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). As I read the news reports following the launch of all three reports, one thought struck me: “no wonder we have a problem with youth out of school”.

Kenya shifted to the 8-4-4 (eight years in primary school, four years in high/secondary school, four years university) system in the 1980s (about 1986). I was in primary school. Since then there have been Commissions established and reviews undertaken on the education curriculum. When I was in university, I submitted my memorandum in support of the 8-4-4 system of education because I truly believed that as it stood the curriculum developed relevant skills for the teenager who did not transit to high school or university to find or establish suitable enterprise. The Commission to which I made my submission, in its recommendations and wisdom, said that the load of the 8-4-4 system was too heavy and that some subjects would be taught but remain non-examinable. These subjects now include Agriculture, Arts, Craft, Music, business education and languages.  Basically, Humanities. As a result, all pupils are forced to use the left side of the brain more than the right side.  There is no time for “getting hands dirty” or being creative. The examinable subjects are Mathematics, Science, Social Ethics, English, Kiswahili.

I cannot imagine going through the week without the often fun Geography, History and Civics class in primary school with the very hilarious Mr Stanley or the Home Science class with Mrs Kanyiri where she made the boys sew their own aprons and pyjamas. High school was even more fun – it is where I made the bold decision to drop Mathematics so that in taking exams for my eight examinable subjects I would have both Geography and History to total eight. Of course this was not an agreeable option for the school administration and would never be accepted by KNEC. But it was worth the try.

So what do the research reports say? In summary, the Uwezo Report measured ability to read in English and Kiswahili and to compute. The conclusion is that over 75% if pupils cannot read in English or Kiswahili and are extremely poor in arithmetic. A newspaper article on the KNEC findings indicate that few parents (mother or father) support their primary school going children in doing their homework.  The early conclusion is that Kenya is purporting to educate children but leaves them without numeracy or literacy skills that would ensure a reasonable/productive life.

The implications of the lack of numeracy and literacy skills is that the individual is limited in their capacity to participate meaningfully. An analysis of the Uwezo reports says they “cannot read and sms, keep track of their bank account (assuming they know well enough to open one), or calculate how much money is owed (something as simple as change from the kiosk)”. Taking this further, it means that statements like “read the constitution for yourself and make an informed decision” cannot be literal. Many newly registered, young voters (under 25 years) cannot actually do so. It is therefore no wonder that militia such as the Mungiki will continue to flourish as they provide protection and livelihood for significant portion of young, undereducated, vulnerable youth. It is now wonder that politicians (and now Christian leaders) will continue to “read the Constitution” and give misleading guidance to young voters whose ability not only to read and know their rights but also to reason is inadequately developed.

As Government and Development actors develop interventions in support of youth empowerment and development, the challenges are beyond opportunities available to young people, including high rates of unemployment. The challenge is very basic. Young people, over the age of 15 years and out of school need to be re-educated in order to become literate.  In fact, youth development programmes would need an “adult education” component to increase their chances of (sustainable) success and to provide maximum benefits for the young people they serve.

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The conference has been officially open by the Mayor of Leksand, a town 3 hours drive North of Stockholm.

The plan, to discuss showcase 150 projects in aspects of Land, Cities, People, Energy and Water being the key enterprises that this five day meeting will focus on.  These projects are trans-formative and have created employment and have empowered young people.  In so doing, move from rhetoric, change minds and result in more than resolve - result in action.

Carl Mossfeldt, Executive Vice President of the Talleberg Foundation surmises thus: The World and humanity today is more closely bound together, bound to and by one fragile blue planet. the jobs of tomorrow must necessarily be different from the jobs of the past.  In addition and on the back of the economic crunch development assistance budgets are cut, corporate organizations laying off thousands of workers. The jobs of tomorrow need to be financed different from the jobs of the past. This meeting will take measures to further bind jobs together and create different types of jobs.(Carl Mossfeldt)

Youth empowerment and employment is a a global agenda.  Poonam Ahluwalla, President of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (YES) Inc USA, says that it is the power of individual dreams that can address this agenda. Individuals, old and young, must have a vision, see a future and take the opportunity to (re)write the future and rework the World.

In the next few days, I will join global changemakers in celebrating success, assessing challenges and understand how community enterprises have addressed challenging times, and in a few years create millions of jobs for young people across the World.

Join me live on www.reworktheworld.org

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On Wednesday 5 May 2010 the World Bank Kenya Office announced a loan advancement to Kenya of KShs 12 billion, of which KShs 4.6 billion (US$ 60m) will target young unemployed Kenyans.

The loan generally aims to improve public service delivery and support youth employment in Kenya.  The loan to the Government of Kenya will increase young people’s access to training, apprenticeship, short-term jobs and ultimately aims to improve long term employability.

One of the key partners in this project is the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) which early in 2010 advertised for vacancies that would establish a Secretariat to run this Project.

What next?

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On Monday 26 April 2010, the President announced performance contract evaluation results and awarded the best performers at the KICC, Nairobi.  In his statement, the President said the guiding principle in the introduction of the performance contracts was to restore order in the administration of public affairs. The process was also intended to create a sense of accountability and that performance contracting was among the vital programs being implemented by the government to improve the quality of lives among Kenyans.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MOYAS) established to represent issues of young people in Government, coordinate and implement activities the increase the participation and empower young people is ranked among the worst performers.

What does that say about the Ministry’s role in improving the quality of life of young people in Kenya? Is this a tell-tale sign that the Ministry is not helping young people move forward?

The evaluation of public agencies covered the 2008/2009 and the first half of the 2009/2010 financial years.  The evaluation rates achievements against performance targets which each Ministry (note that performance contracts only apply to the Executive arm of Government for now) designs, negotiates and agrees at the beginning of the year. Poor performance in this instance simply means that the Ministry performance/achievements are below the previous year’s performance.

Does this mean that MOYAS worked less hard? Or does it mean they set out more than they could achieve within the time frame? Or set out programmes that they did not have sufficient funding for?

The benchmarks for the evaluation include strict compliance to strategic plans, implementation of agreed projects, employee safety, improved service delivery; how well they utilized funds allocated to them, customer satisfaction levels and staff competence.

As the manager of the youth programme, I receive mixed feedback with regard to customer satisfaction levels and staff competence which is basically how young people perceive the role of the Ministry and how well it works for them. At a workshop with young people and youth officers, one of the youth participants asked “what does the youth officer do for us?” He highlighted that at most times the youth know more about possible new programmes and funding for youth; the youth officers seem to act as roadblocks towards their access to the youth fund; and generally that youth officers are NOT youth workers but simply civil servants.  On the other hand some young people in Kitale and Taita hail their youth officers as resourceful and supportive of their projects. The consistent challenge is that youth offices do not have sufficient resources at the work station to support their work to deliver better services to young people.

The Ministry of Youth needs to be more accountable to its constituents and develop working relationships that enables it deliver on its mandate – I think they bit off more than they could chew.

But then again, what are their benchmarks with young people?

At an introductory meeting with the (then new) Permanent Secretary Mr David Waweru, the Director of Youth Development Mr Julius Kubai indicated that the Ministry would be keen to work with young people in undertaking an audit of the work of the Ministry in the service of the youth in Kenya. Would this audit have a different result from the performance contract evaluation?

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sonia rasugu would like to recall the message, "Is Kenya Supporting its Young People? ".

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On Monday 26 April 2010, the President announced performance contract evaluation results and awarded the best performers at the KICC, Nairobi.  In his statement, the President said the guiding principle in the introduction of the performance contracts was to restore order in the administration of public affairs. The process was also intended to create a sense of accountability and that performance contracting was among the vital programs being implemented by the government to improve the quality of lives among Kenyans.

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My discussions with Al Kags on youth development in Kenya seem to have gone off on many different tangents from the funding for youth development to the value of the national youth policy and its application; the focus, type and involvement of young people in enterprise. Input from Fiona Mati/yipe on unsustainable youth enterprises. Valerie’s comment to Al Kags post is that “there are no real policies to support youth”. And a question from George Lewitt on whether Kenya is truly supporting young people and whether young people [on the ground] are actually moving forward.

Where to start?

Let me re-focus on the aspect that began these discussions – funding for youth development in Kenya.  As I indicated in my blogposts of March 8 and March 30 this year, I outlined the resource pools I am aware are available for youth development, from Government and from development organizations.  In the blogpost of March 30 I do detail that Kenya is supporting young people. The questions I raised then still remain.  Thus I may not be able to provide a satisfactory response to George B. Lewitt’s questions. There are resources, there is a national youth policy, but there is absolutely no coordination – formal or informal – on how youth development programmes are implemented. ALL organizations that provide technical and financial resources have the same general, overall objective for youth empowerment, for increased participation in social, political and economic development; and civic engagement in different sectors and at different levels.

I submit that the National Youth Policy is not a great document. But it does detail the issues raised by young people that they want (wanted) Government, development partners and youth organizations to address. However, even in its “weak” state the bigger issues is that there is no monitoring mechanism established by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports or any Governmental body or stakeholders group that can determine whether the investments in youth development are addressing these aspects. My major critique is thus not on the National Youth Policy but rather on the absence of a monitoring mechanism that would help the Kenya Government and young people determine whether there is any progress, on a macro level.  Perhaps this is a failure on the part of youth organizations today.

Al Kags has challenged me to point out a country in which entrepreneurs and innovators do not drive development. I know none. I am aware that young people in most countries do not see themselves as drivers of development.  Young people mostly look inward and see a barrage of challenges against them.  The role of youth organizations and youth groups is to broaden their minds to the possibilities through relationship building among young people with different experiences; engaging them in challenging yet fun and educational activities; and opportunity to network with newsmakers, opinion shapers and may be even entrepreneurs and innovators. In countries where the economy performs poorly and there is a general limited access to services such as healthcare, quality education, and basic needs such as food and shelter young people’s dreams and ambitions are overshadowed by their day to day needs. And this is why the National Youth Policy seems more curative than visionary in its mission and priority strategic areas.

What do we do?

I’ll begin by agreeing with Fiona Mati/yipe. The initiatives in Kenya that target youth owned enterprises are service oriented, small in size and take on a “copy cat” nature. Looking at Kenya’s Vision 2030, I wonder how for instance the how the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) is enabling young entrepreneurs meet the goals for economic development. Indeed, Kenya must begin to guide its young entrepreneurs to invest in the right (read competitive) enterprises, at the appropriate scale and within a specific goal/results oriented framework.

To do so it does require a plan for competitiveness and less a “faddish” approach to development – which is how I view this wildfire enterprise development/entrepreneurship approach that is the priority for funding in youth development.

In order to maximize benefits to young people, it is important to establish a repository of best practice – whether in economic development (income generating activities/social enterprises or entrepreneurship), political development (civic engagement and good governance) or social development (youth friendly amenities such as recreation centres, health services, informal education centres, among others); and scale up what works.

For more young entrepreneurs and innovators to emerge there must be increase information on how they can be supported – venture capitalists and other investors need to be linked to young people (or is it that they need to find these young people?). The orientation of our education system must change – from employment orientation to “permission for creativity” and success outside non-traditional professions.  While there may be a failure of the national youth policy to detail solutions for unemployment, there is a marked disconnect between the national youth policy and other key Government policy that would make the policy effective for young people. And I guess this is what Valerie may have meant. 

Suffice to say, there is poor consistency between policy and practice. Or may be we just don’t know enough. If we did an evaluation, may be we’ll be surprised and see that young people are actually moving forward?

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