the orange newsletter, volume 1, number 9, 13th december 2012

7/30/2019 The Orange Newsletter, Volume 1, Number 9, 13th December 2012

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NEWSLETTER OF THE ORANGE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT PARTY OF KENYA

Volume 1 Number 9 Thursday 13 December 2012

ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga with Kalonzo Musyoka and Morgan Tsvangirai during the ODM NDC at Kasarani

Raila urges Kenyans to vote for Quality LeadersPhilip Etale

Thousands of Wananchi in Vihiga CountySunday braved the scorching sun to listen

to the words of wisdom from the ODMParty Leader Mr. Raila Odinga whotraversed the vast Vihiga County to seeksupport for his presidential bid.

Mr. Odinga, who is Kenya's PrimeMinister, was on a two-day tour ofKakamega and Vihiga Counties.

Addressing the faithful after attending aSunday mass at the Kima Church of God,

the Prime Minister the Prime Minister onceagain said the Coalition of Reform and

Democracy (CORD) formed recentlybetween ODM, the Wiper DemocraticParty, Ford Kenya and twelve other partieswill seek to unite all Kenyans who will be

given equal opportunities and share in thenational cake.

Noting that CORD aims at detribalizing the

country, the PM pointed out that thegovernment that the coalition will formafter the next general election will respect

the rights of all Kenyans irrespective oftheir numerical strength.

Quoting extensively from the Bible, the PMsaid Kenya was almost fifty years andaccording to the book ofLeviticus chapter

25- verse 1 -10; it is an important period inthe time of a nation. A time when allprisoners will be released and all stolenproperties returned to the owners.

He said, We as Kenyans are thereforeasking those calling themselves the


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Jubilee generation whether they are readyand willing to take the responsibility thatcomes with jubilee and return stolen

property and free all those enslaved.

The PM also quoted from the book ofJoshua chapter 18 to 20 on division of landonce Israelites entered Canaan and how

each tribe, big or small was assigned land

and responsibility saying his pledge is toensure all Kenyan communities get their

fair share of the national cake once he iselected into government.

Speaking at the function, Kangundo MPwho is also the joint chief whip Johnston

Muthama said it was payback time for the

PM for the sacrifices he has made to thecountry by fighting for democracy and allthe freedoms being enjoyed in the country.

Kenyans of goodwill should unite underCORD and vote for the Raila Odinga-Kalonzo Musyoka ticket and be assured of

respect and fair play in the next

government, he added.

Same sentiments were expressed by the MPfor Kathiani Wavinya Ndeti who said allcommunities will rally under the Raila

Presidency to stop them being dominationby big tribes.

Lands Minister James Orengo warned

Kenyans against accepting a puppetPresident, as being fronted by the G7alliance.

The PM later embarked on a campaign tourof Vihiga County accompanied by MPsWilbur Ottichillo, Philip Kaloki, and Nancy

Abisai and former MPs Mutua Katuku,

Kalembe Ndile and Maoka Maore.

Director of Communications - ODM

ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga with Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wentagula during the Wiper NDC at Nyayo Stadium

Register to Vote or Bad Leaders will be electedPhilip Etale

Prime Minister Raila Odinga Tuesdayappealed to Kenyans to register as voters tohelp shape the destiny of the country.

He asked employers to give workers anopportunity to enlist as voters butdiscouraged those intending to travel to

register up country to do so within theproximity of their duty stations.

The premier who was addressed a pressconference at his office cautioned Kenyansagainst refusing to register as voters saying

bad leaders are elected by good citizens

who do not vote.

He expressed fears that nations failed

because bad leaders found their way to thehelm whenever citizens refuse to take partin elections.

Odinga at the same time urged fellowpresidential candidates to ask theirsupporters to register saying every Kenyan

had the right take part in the historic polls.

Whether you are in ODM, TNA,URP,Narc Kenya, Wiper or whichever party,

whether you will vote for or against RailaOdinga, I appeal to you to go and register


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in readiness to shape the destiny of the

country he said.

He said the voter registration exercise wasnot a party affair and urged aspirants for

various positions to mobilize theirsupporters to enlist with IEBC within the

next one week.

The Press conference comes after the IEBCrecorded a poor voter turnout at theregistration centres barely a week before

the expiry of the exercise.

Several members of parliament including

Labour Minister John Munyes, HassanJoho and Chachu Ganya in whose regionsthe voter apathy was worst felt urged theircommunities to take the exercise seriously.

Finally Truce is reached in Siaya CountyPhilip Etale

After months of political bad bloodbetween Lands Minister Mr. James Orengoand Finance Assistant Minister Dr. OburuOginga over the Siaya Senate's seat, the

two politicians have now agreed on aformula that would restore political peacein the County.

At joint press conference held at the ODM

Headquarters (Orange House) Wednesdaymorning, the two politicians who in therecent past had been going for each other'sneck, tussling for the Siaya County Senate

seat said "after consultations among thestakeholders from the county", they hadagreed to tone down their political

temperatures for the betterment of theCounty.

In the new deal arrived at afterconsultations that included aspirants for

various seats in all the six constituencies ofthe County namely Bondo, Rarieda, AlegoUsonga, Ugenya, Ugunja and Gem, Mr.Orengo will battle it out for the Senate

ticket while Dr. Oburu will go for theGovernorship.

In a statement read by Alego Usonga

Member of Parliament Mr. Edwin Yinda,

the two politicians had decided to reach thecompromise so as to avoid unnecessary warof words amongst the two and theirsupporters.

"This does not mean that we are endorsingthe two for the said positions, we know

there are other aspirants and they will allmeet at the party nominations for therespective tickets" said Mr. Yinda.

Mr. Orengo said he was upbeat of clinching

the party ticket to run for the Senatorship ofSiaya County due to his vast experience inlegislative matters. "I welcome myopponents for the seat for a fair challenge at

the nominations and I believe I will win theparty ticket" he added.

Dr. Oburu said he had experience in

management owing to his training as a

development economist and promised thepeople of Siaya County of goodmanagement of their resources if he winsthe party ticket and subsequent general

election.

Government Chief Whip Mr. Jakoyo

Midiwo, Rarienda MP Eng. NicholasGumbo and former Gem MP Mr. JoeDonde who forfeited his bid for the Siaya

County Governorship were among thosewho signed the statement.

Social Provisioning in the New KenyaLarry Gumbe

People are the forces that build a country.Kenya is lucky to have a diverse assortment

of this critical resource; a resource whoseformation and sustainability is the familyand the state. However, this resource needsto be developed, cultured, nurtured and

maintained.

As a social democratic political party werealize that the social policy process

engenders a number of complex challengesfor national governments in developed anddeveloping nations. These challengespertain to the provision of accessible andaffordable social services for the public; the

role of government, particularly with regardto the delivery of essential social services;funding; and the relative importance ofexpanding social services in relation to

economic growth, in the broader context ofnational development.We in ODM believe that education, health,recreation, culture and social security are

basic necessities to and a right of eachKenyan and should thus be publicly funded

and equally accessed by each and everyKenyan. The provision of these shall ensurethat both the private and public sectorsparticipate fairly. We view spending in the

sector as investment rather thanconsumption. This way, Kenyans shall befreed from class and elitist barriers that arecurrently imprisoning a majority of

Kenyans in poverty.

Currently, social services are hardlyprovided. Social facilities are dilapidated,understaffed and congested with very poor

infrastructure, equipment, amenities andsystems, where they exist. Those who wishfor a good and quality education, healthcare, social support, recreation, etc. must

pay dearly for it. In other words, since amajority of Kenyans are poor, then theyhave no access to social facilities.

We must, therefore, integrate its socialpolicies with the core national development

plans which will emphasize growth withequitable distribution based on the beliefthat economic growth alone is insufficientto either inspire national development or to

be considered as an end in itself.

We must address:

The fundamental role of government inproviding resources and organisationalinfrastructure for quality education, healthservices, housing for low income groups,water and sanitation and social protection

and related welfare programmes;

Raising investment and motivatinginnovation so that we fruitfully provide for

the different needs of the diversity ofKenyans


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Placing emphasis on rural areas and urban

slums to improve the quality of life of allour people;

Where the private sector and NGOs are

involved in providing these services, thegovernment, in its regulatory capacity, shallensure that public and consumer interests

are adequately safeguarded in terms of

price, availability and quality of servicesrendered;

Ensuring that the institutional frameworkfor the formulation, implementation,

monitoring and coordination of socialpolicies in Kenya is structured toincorporate broad-based participation andthe establishment of policies meant to meet

the needs of the people.

Education and Human Resources

Development for Kenyas Future

Every child has a right to education toenable them be all that they can be and best

contribute to the well-being of our nation;an education that liberates and unleashesones full potential while strengtheningKenyan solidarity. Education is investment

in human capital without which we cannotdevelop.

We must transform the education sector so

that comprehensive quality and quantityeducation is provided to every Kenyan,irrespective of the size of their pockets.

It is through education that we shall

provide a competitive edge in the emergingcompetition for knowledge based jobs.

Continuing lifelong humanizingeducation for all;

Free early childhood education as wellas a school nutrition programme;

Expand learning infrastructure; Compulsory, free quality primary

education;

Universal free secondary schooleducation;

Curriculum review to respond to theneeds of a knowledge-based economy;

Reforming and strengtheningprovision of special education;

Scholarships and loan for learningwith dignity for all who qualify foruniversity KShs12 billion to give

Kshs.100,000 per student annually to120,000 students;

National apprenticeship programme; Improved working conditions and

remuneration for educationalpersonnel.

Our primary goal will be to provide

humanizing education, training and lifelonglearning for each and everyone to assist inpromoting the interests of individuals,enterprises, the economy and society as a

whole, especially considering the criticalchallenge of attaining full employment,poverty eradication, social inclusion and

sustained economic growth in our country.

Several objectives must underpin the new

government's education policy. These areto:

Ensure continuing and lifelonghumanizing education for all in orderto cope with the dynamic andchanging needs of the economy andsociety;

Produce sound, well-rounded creativeindividuals who are politically activecitizens;

Produce a patriotic and united nationwhere our diversity is our strength;

Expand the capacity of educationalestablishments to provide an educationfor all Kenyans;

Strengthen delivery of educationalservices;

Improve the general quality andrelevance of education;

Increase access to all forms ofeducation to generate an adequate poolof national human resources;

Promote equal opportunities forwomen and men in education, trainingand lifelong learning.

Early Childhood Development

Early childhood education is the foundation

of meaningful education and opportunity inlife. This sector must be given thesystematic and proactive attention itdeserves. Nursery schools shall be providedfor in the national and local budgets. We

must build infrastructure and hire morequalified teachers. WE must pledge toprovide free early childhood education aswell a school nutrition programme.

We must rejuvenate and reform thedepartment that handles this level ofeducation, through massive investment.

Early childhood education must bemainstreamed. ODM Enough teachers,infrastructure and facilities must be

provided.

Quality and Quantity Education for all

Primary School Children

We must have compulsory, free qualityprimary education. Special focus must be

paid to rural areas and historically

disadvantaged communities for equity andsocial inclusion. We will increase thenumber of classes in already existingschools, to decongest them. We must also

build new schools, especially in historicallydisadvantaged areas and improve theexisting school infrastructure and facilities.

We must also increase the number of

teachers and strengthen in-service training.

Though the government has given everychild a chance to go to school, the primaryschools are overcrowded, poorly equipped

with poor learning facilities. The numberof teachers has not increased. Moreover,there are over 1 million children eligible forprimary education but unable to access

primary education. Children in rural areasand in the arid and semi-arid areas walklong distances to school. As a result,

Kenyas education at this level, as per the2005 EFA Global Monitoring Report,remains very poor.

We believe that every Kenyan has a right tobeing developed in order to have a choicein life and hence a chance to exploit theirpotential to the full. We pledge to ensure

that each child achieves this right

Enough and Excellent SecondaryEducation for All

Every primary school graduate shall havethe opportunity to continue with excellentsecondary education. We must haveuniversal free secondary school education.

We must streamline and devolve thebursary scheme so that local communitiesmanage and decide which children should

benefit from it. HIV/AIDS affectedchildren and orphans will be accordedpriority treatment.

Currently, secondary educationopportunities are extremely limited; manyprimary school graduates do not obtainplaces in secondary schools. Thus,

successive governments have assumed that14 year olds are well educated and ready toface the world. Moreover, secondary

education is very expensive in Kenya sopoor children cannot afford it.

14 year olds should be in class, still beingprepared for the world. To enable them

continue learning, We must invest heavilyin the expansion of facilities for secondaryeducation countrywide, with specialattention to historically ignored areas such

as urban slums, arid and semi-arid areasand the poor in the rest of the country. We


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must build new schools and expand

existing ones (for example, the addingsecondary school facilities in existingprimary schools to rapidly increasecapacity). Secondary schools shall be

equipped with more laboratories, librariesand ICT infrastructure for qualityeducation. The curriculum shall be

reviewed to ensure it is responsive to the

needs of a knowledge-based economy;

We must also hire more teachers andstrengthen the management of allsecondary schools so that they all become

centres of distinction. Monitoring andevaluation of schools must be improvedand teachers advisory services introduced,with the aim of improving education

performance countrywide.

Special Education

We must commit ourselves to reformingand strengthening provision of all facets ofspecial education. These children should

not be treated as misfits of society. Likeother children, they too have their specialgifts, which are crucial in the developmentof Kenya. Education for this group of

children shall be free from early childhoodto university level.

Another kind of special children who have

never been given their space in this countryis the extremely bright children. These areenrolled in our normal school set-up wheretheir potential is greatly limited. A majorityof them have ended up in crime and other

antisocial activities because this set-up isnot challenging to them. We must developspecial centres and programmes for thesechildren, to fully tap their potentials.

Technical Educational Training and

Apprenticeship for a Skilled Workforce

Skilled technical expertise is necessary fordevelopment. We must re-invigorate and

modernise all middle level colleges such asthose for vocational training and thediploma awarding colleges to cater for both

Kenya and the rest of the world. Kenyan

students who join these colleges shall alsobe assured of scholarships and student

loans.

The government must undertake review of

the curricula of these institutions updatethese with new and emerging technologiesin the industry. Funding for rehabilitation,equipment and construction of new

facilities and institutions shall be availed.In addition, staff training and recruitmentas well as improvement of the terms and

conditions of service shall be done in orderto retain staff.

An national apprenticeship programme

shall be put in place to cater for all forms ofgraduates and any other person needing toupdate their skills and knowledge toprovide students with hands-on skills

needed in the job market.

University education

Universities are the fountains of knowledgein modern societies. We envision a Kenyathat has world class universities thatproduce graduates who are brilliantlyequipped for the modern world and conduct

research giving priority to providingsolutions to problems in our country.Through this we shall ensure home-growntechnologies for our industrialisation.

We must increase investment in university

education to ensure greater access, equity,relevance and quality. To this end, wemust:

Fund universities to modernize andexpand learning and accommodation

facilities to enhance equity in access;

Ensure excellent working conditionsand terms of service for university

staff to retain and attract our bestbrains;

Ensure that every student qualifyingfor admission to university secures ascholarship and loan for learning withdignity KSh 12 billion only will

provide a revolving fund enough togive Kshs.100,000 per studentannually to 120,000 students;

Create a fund for research beginningwith an allocation of one billionKenya shillings and be progressivelyincreased to 1% of our GDP;

Create linkages with companies andother institutions to partner with theuniversities in research and

development, course sponsorships andindustrial placement for students;

Analyse the cost-structure ofuniversity education and implementmeasures to reduce these costs toenhance equitable access to all who

qualify;

Put measures to correct genderdisparity in admissions;

Encourage competitive, merit orientedrecruitment of management;

Strengthen the evaluation and auditingof academic and finances ofuniversities to ensure integrity;

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 Gumbe

Email:[email protected] SMS: 0713 764809

-The Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya

Orange HouseMenelik Road, Kilimani Area

P.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.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.odm.co.ke/http://www.odm.co.ke/http://www.odm.co.ke/http://www.odm.co.ke/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

the orange newsletter, volume 1, number 9, 13th december 2012

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