the orange newsletter volume 1 number 6. 22 november 2012

7/30/2019 The Orange Newsletter Volume 1 Number 6. 22 November 2012

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NEWSLETTER OF THE ORANGE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT PARTY OF KENYA

Volume 1 Number 6 Thursday 22 November 2012

ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga with the South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik in Seoul

Raila Meets South Korean Prime MinisterOrange Correspondent

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has asked theGovernment of South Korea to help Kenyaattain self-sufficiency in Energy as a pathto industrial development.

The PM asked for collaboration that willsee Kenya exploit its full potential forgeothermal and coal power.

He also wants Korea to support Kenyasdreams for the development of nuclear

power.

Speaking at a bilateral meeting withKoreas Prime Minister Mr. Kim Hwang

Sik in Seoul, Mr Odinga said Kenya isunder exploiting its energy resourcesbecause of lack of finances.

He said that the coal power plant to beconstructed by Daewoo Corporation inKilifi would be producing about 300MW

while the governments real goal is to have1,000MW out of the station.

Mr Odinga said in the Rift Valley where

the potential for geothermal power stands at7,000MW, the country is currentlyproducing only 150MW.

We are looking for a proper andaffordable financial arrangement that canhelp us exploit our full energy potential,


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the PM said.

The PM said Kenya is serious aboutexploring the nuclear option as a source ofpower and asked Korean firms to consider

setting up plants in Nairobi under a built,operate and transfer arrangement.

Mr. Odinga said Energy remains one of the

biggest threats to Kenyas dream of beingAfricas investment destination.

Kenya currently has a total installed powercapacity of 1,215MW, and peak demand

can reach 1,150MW.

He said it is one of the largest householdcosts in Kenya and addressing it is core to

Kenyas economic recovery and povertyeradication.

Mr Odinga said the government hasidentified generation of power from cleancoal as one of the flagship projects towardsattaining the Vision 2030.

We need to pursue energy from diversesources if we are to respond to our peoplesconcerns about prices of power.

Of course, we have to be responsiblemembers of the global community by

ensuring our energy is green and clean, hesaid.

Mr Odinga said that the Government isexpected to deliver new investments in

energy to keep the lights on and factoriesrunning if we are to create jobs and getour people working.

Keeping the lights on and industriesrunning is a key priority area for Kenya

going forward.

We all agree that energy is a driver of, and

prerequisite for, development. Withoutaccess to modern energy, there can be nodevelopment, he said.

The PM called for huge investments in theenergy sector, and appealed for thegovernment and private sector to work

together towards this goal.

Mr Odinga said that while the governmentof Korea on the development of Nuclear

power is currently training a number ofKenyans, it would be better if Korean firmsset up stations in Nairobi and transferredthem to Kenya later.

He said Kenya has in recent yearsdiscovered a number of useful minerals

including iron ore, manganese, coal and oil,

but the country would not benefit fromthem without adequate power.

We want to explore all options available

to us in the field of energy. The mineralswe have discovered form a good basis forindustrialization but they will be of no use

to us if we dont have power, the PM said.

With iron ore deposits, the country is keen

to set up steel mills urgently but that woulddepend on the countrys sufficiency inelectricity, the PM said.

Prime Minister Huang Sik said Korea willlend its support, and cited the training ofKenyans on nuclear power as a sign that his

country is keen to help Kenya find the rightenergy mix for and industrial take off.

Mr Huang Sik promised closercollaboration in the field of gas explorationand development of geothermal power.

Mr Odinga was accompanied by MinistersAbabu Namwamba, Amason Kingi,assistant Ministers Oburu Oginga andMagerer Langat and the Managing Director

of KenGen Mr Eddy Njoroge.

A DP Official from Nyamira County who defected to ODM receives the Membership Card from Migori MP John Pesa


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Nyamira County DP Officials Defect to ODMPhilip Etale

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)Wednesday received a major boost in its

bid to capture power in next year's GeneralElection when the entire office of the

Nyamira Branch of the Democratic Party(DP) defected to join the party.

The 25 officials who were led by their

Chairman Mr. Charles Tai Ocharo quit theDP which they said had lost ground in theentire Gusii region.

Mr. Ocharo said they chose ODM becauseit stands for change and the betterment ofthe lives of Kenyans.

Nyamira DP Youth leader Mr. JasperNyachae said they will campaign

vigorously for ODM in the March 4, 2013general election saying that it was the party

of choice in the region.

The officials officially resigned from DPand denounced their 20 year old

membership to join ODM which they saidhad the largest following in the country.

The officials were received into the party at

Orange House by ODM Legislators JohnPesa (Migori) and Omar Zonga(Msambweni) together with the ODM

Executive Director Ms. Janet Ong'era andthe Nyamira County ODM Chairman Mr.

Timothy Bosire.

Ms. Ong'era at the same time lashed out atother political parties for poaching ODMmembers through unorthodox means sayingthat such tact was bound to fail.

She urged ODM members and supportersto remain steadfast in the party adding thatthis was the party that will form the next

government.

Director of Communications - ODM

We Must Industrialize Our Agriculture

Larry Gumbe

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, speaking inMalaysia on 17 November 2012, called for

collaboration between Kenya and EastAsian nations and institutions that will help

redefine and rebrand the countrys globalimage while repositioning Kenyasproducts and services internationally.

This, he said, is what Asian nations, led byformer Prime Minister Dr. MahathirMohamed did to achieve tremendous

political and economic transformation overthe last few decades.

The Asian Miracle compelled afundamental change in the world economicorder. A small club of industrializednations can no longer dictate the future ofglobal economy. It is the G-20, no longer

the G-7 that is the most influential forum of

global leaders, the PM said.

He recalled that under Mathirs leadership,

Malaysia said no to the WashingtonConsensus during the Asian FinancialCrisis and time has since proved that heacted in the best interest of the region and

the country.

He said Kenyas Vision 2030 borrowsheavily from Malaysias Vision 2020. He

expressed hope that in about a decade,Kenya will be where Malaysia is today andeven catch up.

Mr Odinga recalled that way back in 1955,the first Afro-Asian Conference was held in

Bandung, Indonesia where 29 mostlynewly independent countries gathered andpledged to work together to opposecolonialism, neo-colonialism, andimperialism.

Mr Odingas observations lead us to posethe question: What really is the meaning ofthe word development'? Our leaders in

politics, religion, academics and otherspheres of life are all professed proponentsof development. To contextualise ourpresentation, let us examine this word. We

are all agreed that development takes placethrough economic activity. The object ofeconomic activity is to satisfy humanneeds. The basic human needs include

food, shelter, health, education andclothing. More human needs arise associety progresses, i.e. as economic activityis expanded and intensified. These needs

are either satisfied or not, depending on thestate of the economy.

Historically, distinct social classes have

arisen as a result of economic activity.Serially, hunter-gatherers, peasants and theindustrial working classes, in theprogression from purely subsistence

societies to modern industrial societies. Inthis progression, human kind has beenprogressively liberated from complete

dependence on nature to harnessing andcontrolling nature for its benefit.

Economic progress therefore leads todevelopment. Development therefore is aprocess of liberating human kind from themercy of nature, i.e. backwardness.

Engineering has played a leading role in

mechanising systems in humandevelopment. The mechanisation anddevelopment of agriculture has had crucial

engineering inputs at all times.

Agricultural mechanisation

The needs for increased agriculturalproduction and productivity have beenreiterated many times by our leaders. Themechanisation of our agriculture in order to

achieve greater yields is the stated objectiveof most politicians and indigenous as wellas foreign experts involved in agricultureand rural development activities. There are

many development NGOs which areengaged in various intermediatetechnology level development ofimplements and machinery which they

regard as the appropriate tools inmechanising our agriculture. On the otherhand, we have suppliers of tractors,combine harvesters and other 'hi-tech'

machinery who view their machinery asbeing essential to the successfulmechanisation of agriculture.


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The two opposing positions have

supporters who have been engaged in anoften bitter confrontation. There are otherintermediate positions. Prof G.C. Mrema[1] has summarized four positions taken by

researchers/development planners onagricultural mechanization.

1. The first group are those who opposethe widespread adoption of advancedtechnologies (mostly internal

combustion engines and tractors) inagricultural mechanisation as entirelyinappropriate in most situations in

developing countries. This groupargues that mechanically powered -agricultural mechanisation often leadsto displacement of labour and hence

increased unemployment, and thisresults in a host of other socio-economic problems, amongst them,

rural-urban migration, inequitabledistribution of wealth and in manycases an increase in absolute poverty,balance of payments due to the need to

import machinery, fuel and sometimestechnical assistance to manage them.

They further argue that adoption of

mechanical technologies does notnecessarily lead to increased yields andland productivity and equal or evenhigher increments could be achieved by

use of biochemical inputs alone. Thisgroup often advocates the use ofimproved hand tools and/ or draughtanimal technologies coupled withbiochemical inputs (fertilizers etc.).

Essentially, they see the hand tools andanimal powered technologies as analternative to mechanical technologiesin the agriculture of developing

countries especially the smallholdersector.

2. The second group comprises of thosewho view the use of the improved handtools and animal powered technologyas transitional step between the mostrudimentary step in technological

development (characterised by entirereliance on human muscle power) andthe advanced technologies

(characterised 'by reliance on tractorsand other machinery).

This group argues that the course oftechnological development is

evolutionary and it is each country'sprerogative to aspire to a highertechnological plateau. It is argued,modernity is a legitimate goal, but care

should be taken to ensure thattechnological, cultural, economic andsocial development all work in tandem

to ensure a well balanced society. This

group opposes any rapid mechanisation

policies, in particular those which aimat wide scale adoption of mechanicaltechnologies among small and mediumscale farmers. In many cases this group

has attempted, at times convincinglyand at other times unconvincingly, toshow that these improved hand tools

and draught animal power are just as

good and economical as themechanical technologies.

3. The third group comprises those whoregard these intermediate technologies

(i.e. improved hand tools and draughtanimal technology in agriculture) as adelaying tactic and they advocate theuse of mechanical technologies as-the

most appropriate. This group arguesthat alternatives to the mechanicaltechnologies do not just exist as a

practical matter, or, if they areavailable, they are inefficient and theycannot be compared to the mechanicaltechnologies in terms of economics and

productivity.

They further argue that, where thesemechanical technologies have failed in

developing countries, this has in mostcases been a consequence of poorplanning, management and supervision.They view the agricultural production

process as a thermodynamic process(advocating a minimum level of energyper hectare) and argue that food andcrop production has to be achieved inthe most efficient way, maximising the

productivity of land and labour, and itis only by doing this that a surplus canbe realised which can then be marketedat a lower price. They scorn at those

who oppose agricultural mechanisationfor fear of creating unemployment andcompare them to the Luddites inEngland of 19th Century, who smashed

textile machinery because they fearedit, would create unemployment.

This group argues that as long as

agriculture in developing countries is

perceived as a gigantic programme ofrelieving unemployment, then these

countries will continuously face hunger andmassive starvation. On the question ofenergy problems required for running thesetractors, it is argued that the. fossil fuelsspent in running them even in the most

advanced countries is less than 5 of thetotal commercial energy used, and in anycase the other biochemical inputs which donot seem to be questioned in so far as

energy is concerned, are even much moreenergy intensive than the fuel required torun the machinery and implements (Stout

1979; Fluck and Baird 1979; Gohlich,

1984).

4. The fourth group advocates acompromise between groups 2 and 3

above. This group views the improvedhand tools and draught animaltechnology as more of an 18th century

technology and the modem tractor and

combine harvester as more of. a 21stcentury technology for most of the

developing countries. This groupargues that more appropriate form ofmechanical technologies can be

developed for the farming systems inthe third world.

Thus, over the past 30 or so years, this

group has been busy designing anintermediate, appropriate, mini,micro tractor for use by farmers in

developing countries. The idea here hasbeen to develop a technology whichcan be afforded by the small scalefarmer and which is also multi-purpose.

Development of such technologies hasbeen particularly done on the Asiansubcontinent (Philippines, Thailand,etc.) as well as some of the more

advanced countries in Europe and, inAfrica, e.g. Tinkabi and Kabanyolotractors.

Agricultural mechanization cannot beviewed in isolation. It is a strategicprogramme in the overall economicdevelopment plans of the country.Specifically, it must be discussed as a part

of the industrialization efforts of the nation.

In analyzing our agricultural mechanizationand industrialization objectives and

strategies, we must also take into accountthe historical situation in which we findourselves. Our technologically backwardeconomy was fashioned deliberately by the

British colonialists. Our economy suppliedBritain with raw materials and it in turnsupplied us with durable and semi durableconsumables like bicycles, ploughs, spades,

etc.

The few engineering workshops we had

were mainly engaged in repairs of importedgoods; simple engineering items likesprings, steel wires, iron chains andmachine tools were imported - mainly fromBritain. The above scenario has not

changed much, except for the emergence of

Jua Kali sector which mainly recyclesscrapped imported machine parts into hand-made consumer semi-durables. The

JuaKali sector uses highly labourintensive methods, reminiscent of 18thcentury Europe. The basic question which


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we must address is simply: What is the best

option for agricultural mechanisation?

Objective

The objective of agriculture is to producefood and other raw materials using the mostefficient and cost-effective methods.

Agricultural mechanization is therefore, a

strategy for achieving this objective.

Employment

It is often argued that as agriculture

employs the vast majority of our labourforce, it is therefore our most significanteconomic sector. Implicit in this statementis that this state of the affairs has to be

maintained, at least for the foreseeablefuture. What is the validity of thisargument?

As stated above, the primary objective ofagriculture is to provide food and other rawmaterials. This process must obviously be

carried out in the' most efficient and cost-effective manner. Employment is created inthis sector because we require humanlabour intervention in the production

process. Mechanisation leads to morelabour and process efficiency, resulting inbetter energy utilization and lowerproduction costs. In an industrializing

economy, labour requirements reduced invarious industries as production systemsare progressively mechanised. The workersdisplaced in such industries are absorbed inother industries where they are required. In

fact, the lowest unemployment rates are inthe most industrialized countries whichhave the highest levels of agriculturalmechanisation.

Mechanising our agriculture will displacesome labour from the sector. This isactually desirable in a modern

industrialising economy. In such aneconomy, labour is required in many otherareas. Where would we get our teachers,engineering manufacturing workers,

musicians, journalists, researchers, textileworkers, petrochemical workers etc., if thevast majority of our workers are engaged in

just one sector, i.e., agriculture?Conversely, can we industrialise oureconomy by engaging most of our workersin just one sector?

5. The way forwardThe basic approach to economicdevelopment that we should take should be

that of a nation based on modem industry.That is, we should industrialise.

This includes industrializing our

agriculture. This is the only way that wecan expand the production of food andcapital equipment to satisfy the basic needsof our people. Industries using modem

large scale methods have to besupplemented by small industries whichmay be particularly suited for better

utilization of local resources, and for

achievement of local self-sufficiency inrespect of certain types of essential

consumer goods like food, cloth andagricultural implements. For the small scaleindustries to survive and thrive, they have

to be supplied with a number of factorsincluding: Cheap raw materials; cheap,efficient and reliable power; technicaladvice; organized marketing of produce;

and where necessary, safeguards againstintensive competition from imports.

The basic strategies for industrializationshould involve: Emphasis on heavyindustries; establishment and nurturing ofwell supported and funded research

institutes; setting up of the infrastructurefor power and transport; and selectivedisengagement of the economy from theworld economy.

Economic development is a process inwhich the standard of living of the peopleis progressively raised through domestic

wealth creation. Modern scientifically-ledeconomic development has led toindustrialization, in which the peoplethemselves have undergone tremendouschange.

Semi-subsistent peasants, the so calledsmall-scale farmers have been transformedinto industrial workers in developed

countries. This process has liberated manypeople from backwardness and superstition.The process of development, i.e.,industrializing, will change the quality of

our people. As people are liberated fromtheir adverse economic conditions, andtransformed into industrial workers, theirattitudes change. In short, they will

undergo a cultural change. Practices suchas moranism will, inevitably, die.

The perverse position that, in modemtimes, that we must permanently run aneconomy in which a significant sector isengaged in agricultural production usingrudimentary hand tools, animal powered

technologies and manual machines such asoil presses should be opposed.

Agriculture, really, like all production

processes, is a thermodynamic process.There must be a minimum energy input

into the system to achieve meaningful

production. Food and crop production hasto be achieved in the most efficient way,maximising the productivity of land andlabour, and it is only by doing this that a

surplus can be realized which can bemarketed at a lower price. Further, if theeconomy does not produce enough surplus,

then there is nothing to re- invest in the

acquisition of new and better technology.

Well-paid, highly educated experts frominternational Organizations and NGOs, andlocal consultants on their payroll who have

graduated from using slide rules toelectronic calculators and finally toelectronic computers should not sermonizeto us about the merits of using hand tools

and animal power. These people enjoy thefruits of industrialised societies, whichhave only been made possible by modem

industry. They enjoy modern medical carewith all its scanners etc., they drive air-conditioned cars which glide over potholes.They enjoy cultural events (cocktail parties,

plays, etc.) made possible byindustrialization. They communicatethrough faxes and email. They use mobiletelephones and watch satellite television,

and 'they have the most t modem householdappliances to make life easier. Why wouldthese people, then, be opposed to othersenjoying the fruits of industrialization?

Their unstated aim, surely, is to keep usbackward.

The above indicates to us that for us toindustrialize and mechanize our agriculture,

we need to have meaningful investment inscience and technology research andconsultancy. This should include thenurturing of a patriotic community of

researchers and consultants in agriculture,engineering and other related areas of S &T. The funding of research should becarried out primarily by our government.

Our researchers must be paid meaningfulsalaries; they cannot be expected to do anyuseful work if they are constantly hustling

to keep alive. Worse still, the low payentices them into the hands of foreignagencies; they become consultants for these

agencies locally or they leave the countryaltogether to effect the same.

History has taught us that differentcountries have not followed exactly the

same path to industrialization. Englandstarted with steam power, followedrespectively by the internal combustionengine, electrification, nuclear power.

South East Asian nations achieved

industrialization by jumping to, micro-


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electronics, the most modem industries at

the time they were industrializing.

We must, therefore, prepare ourselves for a

big jump forward. The successfulmechanization of our agriculture will alsodepend on defining minimum land sizes fordifferent agro-ecological zones. Rampant

subdivision of land has led to minuscule

land holdings in some areas with the bestagricultural soils such as Kakamega and

Kisii. The use of land for speculativepurposes also adds to production costs.Careful policies should be adopted to

discourage such speculation.

The crucial question in industrializationand agricultural mechanization is: Where

do we get the capital from? We know forsure that the World Bank, IMP, etc. will notprovide any meaningful funding for these

purposes; this is simply because thecountries which established theseorganizations have no interest in ourindustrialization.

We must look elsewhere. The first place isour own selves. Almost every self-respecting cooperative society has (or

intends to) invest in beautiful modem officecomplexes in Nairobi and other urbanareas. How many factories could we havebuilt with all the funds?

At a time when we are importing sugar,would it not have been wiser for UkulimaCooperative Society to invest in a sugarfactory? And the businessmen importing

sugar, could they not have invested in sugarfactories? We read, very regularly, in thelocal press of huge sums of money stolen

from the public kitty. How many agro-

industries could we have built from, thebillions?

The other source of capital is from abroad.

Firstly, our citizens who, we are told, havehuge sums of money in foreign bankaccounts, should be required to repatriate

these funds

Secondly, we can very carefully negotiate

with foreign companies and governmentsfor joint ventures. The foreign investmentin our economy should be mutually

beneficial to the parties concerned. Weshould not be in the business of invitingforeigners to our country to repatriateabroad all the wealth created.

Conclusion

Industrialization and agriculturalmechanization will only be possiblethrough enlightened political leadership.The government must reconcile apparently

opposing sides in: production andconsumption; agriculture and industry;heavy and light industry; and large scaleand small scale agriculture.

The government should involve our localexperts in clearly defining ourindustrialization and agricultural

mechanization objectives. Correctlydefined strategic programmes should beimplemented by competent professionalswho are deft at tactical management.

The people should be involved at everystage of the processes described above.Without the enthusiastic support of the

people, the programmes cannot succeed.

Just after the inception of the processes, thepeople should begin to see some tangiblefruits. This will motivate them to workharder.

The people should enjoy maximum humanand social rights for their enthusiastic

involvement in economic development

activities. They should be free to debateissues, associate, elect leaders of their

choice, etc. Equally important, they shouldhave affordable access to food, shelter,housing, education, and medical care. Fee

payment at points of use for education andmedical care, as prescribed by SAPs,should be done away with. The payers usemoney they have earned from the economy,

not from Mars. We can therefore, find waysof humanely collecting the money from theeconomy before a service is required.

Where necessary, the private sector shouldbe motivated and nurtured to provide auseful input in our agricultural

mechanization efforts. However, thegovernment bears the ultimateresponsibility for economic development.Our government should not abrogate its

responsibility for economic management toforeign agencies and mystical economicforces emanating from America and itsindustrialized allies.

For economic development, and to ensureour very survival, we must industrialize oureconomy and mechanize our agricultureusing modern large scale methods. There is

no other way.

The Orange is a Newsletter of the Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya

Readers are invited to submit their articles for publication at the address given below:

Prof. Larry GumbeEmail:[email protected]

SMS: 0713 764809

-The Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya

Orange House

Menelik Road, Kilimani AreaP.O. Box 2478, 00202

Nairobi.Email:[email protected]

Check out our website atwww.odm.co.ke

Opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the ODM.
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the orange newsletter volume 1 number 6. 22 november 2012

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