the orange newsletter, volume 2, number 1. 3 january 2013

7/30/2019 The Orange Newsletter, Volume 2, Number 1. 3 January 2013

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NEWSLETTER OF THE ORANGE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT PARTY OF KENYA

Volume 2 Number 1 Thursday 3 January 2013

The CORD Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga Addresses Supporters at a Public Rally in Migori Town

Orange New Year MessageLarry Gumbe

Party members and compatriots,

Let us make 2013 the year of reforms and

transformation. Let us build the forces that

will defeat the arbitrary rule and impunity

of the past. Let us begin to reclaim the

destiny of our country and that of future

generations from the grip of ethnic corrupt

cabals.

Let us turn 2013 into a year of hope and

renewal, of ending the despair and fatalism

and the economic desperation that has

characterized our past. There is a better

alternative for Kenya.

We can draw inspiration from the struggles

of our ancestors, who, against all the odds,

dared to dream of a better future, who

aspired to having greater control over their

lives, who wanted their children to grow

with them and to share this common land

of ours, not having to see them take the

boat or plane to another place to find work

and establish a future for themselves.

The future of our people lies in electing the

CORD government on 4 March 2013. This
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will lead to an all-Kenya community of

solidarity and co-operation among our

people a Kenya in which the wealth isproduced, owned and shared by the people.

Let us make 2013 the first step in the

building of a new Kenya.

Let us begin to fulfill the legacy of

Mekatilili Wa Menza, Harry Thuku,

Muindi Mbingu, Ezekiel Apindi, Chege

Kibacia, Makhan Singh, Fred Kubai,

Oginga Odinga, Jomo Kenyatta, Tom

Mboya, Pio Gama Pinto, Josiah Mwangi

Kariuki, Crispine Odhiambo Mbai and the

others millions of patriots who struggled

for a better nation. A better Kenya can be

built, by our actions today and tomorrow.

In 2013, We Must Get it RightRt. Hon. Raila Odinga

My fellow countrymen and women

We have come to the end of an eventful

and largely successful year 2012.

This is also marks five years of a

challenging but rewarding journey.

Out of the dark clouds of the 2007-2008violence, we grabbed the silver lining and

lay the foundation for a new Kenya.

Our country recovered its breath and

endorsed a new Constitution. With that, we

created a framework for a stable, peaceful

and prosperous future.

I wish to thank President MwaiKibaki for

the cooperation that enabled us come this

far.

I wish the President well in his last months

in office and urge him to steer the

remaining phase with the impartiality that itdeserves.

In 2013, we have a rendezvous with

destiny. That destiny is pegged on the first

General Election under the new

Constitution.

I appeal to every Kenyan who registered as

a voter to take up the sacred, patriotic duty

and vote on March 4, 2013.

Let us come out and put our great nation in

the hands of men and women who will

faithfully oversee the great transition we

began in 2008.Before we get to March 4, we have

enormous house-keeping matters to

address.

There is consensus that Kenya's future will

be bright if the next election passes off

peacefully. Almost our entire future is tied

to the coming election.

Yet too often, elections in Kenya mean loss

of lives. That is the last thing we want in

2013. There is nothing to be gained by

violence, but just too much to be lost.

As politicians and candidates vying for

various positions, we must provide the kind

of moral leadership that will move our

country to a different plane.

We have to ensure that the horrors of the

past, the impunity and poverty and

unemployment, will not be part of our

future.

Let us shun the politics of patronage and

ethnic share-outs that leaves the masses

feeling let down.

I appeal for calm, maturity and restraint

across the nation.

Nobody must tolerate hooliganism as a

path to power.

Our youth must reject hooliganism as a

means of propelling parties and candidates

to leadership.

We must debate ideologies and policies,

not ever-shifting alliances, based on

ethnicity, personality and status in society.

There is no better way to set the stage for

creation of jobs for our young people.

I know no better way to ensure our

economy grows by double digits after

elections and beyond.

There is no other way to attract

investments.

If we have insecurity and instability every

election year, all our hard work to

encourage investment in Kenya will fail.

We must support the IEBC in its undoubted

commitment to holding free, fair and

credible elections.

Let us remember that the 2007-2008

violence resulted from electoral fraud. We

have to get it right this time.

This nation has many well-wishers outthere. I appeal for their honest and steadfast

support at this historic moment.

I appeal to the international community to

give Kenya a chance and support our

determination to achieve a new beginning.

Security is central to peace and stability

during and after elections.

I am therefore glad that we enter 2013 with

our homeland security organs under one

Inspector General.

Congratulations to Mr. David Kimaiyo on

his appointment. I promise him my supportand that of the entire government.

Kenyans hope to see foundations being laid

in the Police Force for the kind of reforms

so far witnessed in our Judiciary as we

head to elections.

While on security, I congratulate our armed

forces for their patriotic and exemplary role

in in liberating Somalia and securing our

land.

In 2013 therefore, let us have a sense of

purpose in all we do.

Let us have a commitment to real change,

real opportunities, real reform and a real

future for everyone.

I wish you all peace, health, happiness and

prosperity.


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The CORD Deputy Presidential Candidate Kalonzo Musyoka Addresses Supporters at the CORD Tukotayari Rally in Uhuru Park,

Nairobi

Rural Transformation for Equitable DevelopmentLarry Gumbe

The prosperity and stability of our country

can only be realized through equitable

development and distribution of resources.

Rural productivity and livelihoods must be

improved through progressive land reform,

infrastructure development, and the

provision of water for domestic use,

irrigation and animal production. We must

also promote the application of modern

technology, mechanisation, rain water

harvesting, and flood control, and stimulate

and support the development of agro-industries and businesses.

Additionally, we must improve and

enhance institutions that provide extension

services, affordable capital, research and

marketing to all rural production activities,

in a manner that benefits all rural residents.

A review of the costs of production of

cereals, sugar, beef and dairy products

which are considered high in comparison

with imports from the region must be done

with an aim of reducing production costs.

We must develop people centred policies

that promote the achievement of this

objective.

Investment in modern science andtechnology led intensive irrigated

agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and

forestry;

Rural-based agro-industries, servicesector, and businesses for equitable

rural transformation, social inclusion,

jobs and cheap quality food; Roads, electricity, water and

processing industries in ASAL areas;

Creating non-farm jobs and income; Guaranteed markets and fair returns

for farmers, livestock producers and

fish producers;

Vibrant extension and researchservices;

Timely credit, modern inputs andinsurance;

Rising incomes supporting highstandards of living in rural areas;

A responsive land tenure system; Appropriate and consistent policy,

legal and institutional framework.

As a social democratic party, the CORD

believes that promoting the right of every

Kenya to achieve the realization of their

dreams and potential is the best way to

nurture an equitable, socially inclusive, just

Kenyan society. We cannot afford to have a

country of first class and second-class

citizens. And if Kenya is to attainsustainable development, then all parts of

Kenya must develop and development

should cease to be a function of how near

the area is to the centre, the capital cities or

provincial and district headquarters.

Currently, due to high population density

and poor technology application on arable

land, land productivity has declined. In

addition, a majority of rural people have

limited alternative sources of livelihood.

Consequently, a large part of population, a


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majority of who are in the rural areas, faces

chronic hunger. Many Kenyans live in

absolute poverty. Famine occurrence has

increased in frequency from once every 10

years in the 1960s to once every year and is

now chronic.

Only a small of arable land in Kenya is

under irrigation. There is a chronic

drainage problem in river basins such asBudalangi, Tana River, /north Eastern

Kenya and Nyando areas.

There is also little capital investment in the

rural areas. Institutions such as those that

provide credit and extension services (e.g.

in agriculture, livestock, forestry, fisheries

and small enterprise) are weak or non-

existent. Besides, certain crops and

activities have been ignored by government

since independence. Moreover, others that

were traditionally supported have been

neglected and abandoned.

No self-respecting sovereign nation can

condone a situation where a third of its

people are surviving on foreign relief food.

Our people must be well nourished.

Kenyans must regain their dignity. Kenya

must regain its sovereignty.

We must take urgent steps to:

Urgently invest in modern science andtechnology led intensive irrigated

agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and

forestry ;

Develop food production, rural-basedagro-industries, service sector and

businesses to ensure the equitabletransformation of the rural areas,

social inclusion and assurance of jobs

and cheap quality food;

Encourage investment in post-harvestprocessing and preservation

technologies that will maximise

returns to the rural producer while

ensuring stable supply and affordable

prices to the consumer;

Ensure that agriculture, pastoralismand fisheries become commercial and

profitable activities along the entire

production, marketing and consumer

chain;

Promote the growth of rural industriesand agro-businesses with strong

multiple forward and backward

linkages and integration to create non-

farm jobs and non-farm incomes;

Guaranteeing a market and fair returnsfor farmers, livestock producers and

fish producers;

Strengthen institutional capacity ofrural producers to improve their

bargaining power in order to enhance

their incomes;

Develop modern rural access roads tofacilitate access to markets and the

integration of the rural and urban

economies;

Provide electricity, water andtelecommunications to facilitate rural

industrialization and improve the

quality of life in rural areas;

Ensure high production, highproductivity, high quality products,

and rising incomes capable of

supporting high standards of living in

rural areas comparable and even better

than those of other workers;

Strengthen institutions providingresponsive, vibrant extension services

and research services for rural

producers;

Facilitate the provision of timelycredit, modern inputs and insurance;

Formulate and implement a responsiveland tenure system;

Promote the applicationof biotechnology inincreasing production of food, feed,

fibre and other products;

Develop improved and high yieldingand disease resistant livestock

varieties among the pastoralist

communities, small scale dairy

farmers, and peasants owning

traditional livestock;

Promote public and privatepartnerships in research and

technology

Develop appropriate and consistentpolicy, legal and institutional

framework in the agricultural,

livestock and fisheries sectors and

adequate capacity for enforcement.

Our post March 2013 CORD

government must implement all this

through inclusive and people-driven

policy choices for equal and equitable

participation by all Kenyans irrespectiveof their religion, physical abilities,

location, tribe and race. Integrity must be

assured through effective and efficient

application of management and

governance systems.

Development and Integration of Arid andSemi-Arid (ASAL) Areas and Pastoralism

into the National Economy

Prosperity and stability of our country can

only be realized through equitable

development and distribution of

resources. There is no better way of having

a just society than promoting the right of

every Kenya to achieve the realization of

his/her dreams and potential. We cannot

afford to have a country of first class and

second-class citizens. If Kenya is to attain

sustainable development, then all parts of

Kenya must develop and development

should cease to be a function of how near

the area is to the centre, the capital cities or

provincial and district headquarters.

We recognize that the ASAL areas, which

comprise 80% of our landmass and

constitute 34% of the population, host

approximately 70% of the nationallivestock herd, with a conservative

estimated value of 120 billion. ASAL areas

are home to over 90% of wild game that

supports Kenyas tourist industry.

Pastoralism also provides direct

employment and livelihood to over three

million Kenyans. But despite the

importance and the high potential of

pastoralism to the national economy,

there is both a paucity of knowledge

about the pastoralist and pastoralism and a

dearth of ideas on how to integrate them

into the national economy.

ASAL areas have not been treated fairly in

the distribution of national wealth. This

part of the country continues to lag behind

in terms of basic infrastructure and human

welfare indicators. In spite of its enormous

potential in livestock wealth, minerals,

abundant wildlife and its resilient people,

the pre-colonial and successive post

independence governments have continued

to give lip-service to its development,

creating a national imbalance, which is

morally unacceptable. We must endeavour

to foster a healthier, better educated,

peaceful and more productive pastoralistcommunities in Kenya. In so doing, we

will make pastoralism a self-sustaining

livelihood system and an important sector

in our economy.

We must promote the development of the

ASAL and their integration them into the

national economy to achieve their full

potential. We must come up with a

development master plan to be used as a

guide to fast-track socio-economic growth

and sustainable development in the ASAL,

which will include but not limited to the

following areas:

A Good Road Network: There is astrong nexus between poverty

reduction and infrastructural

development. A good road network

will not only link the ASAL to other

parts of the country but also the

neighbouring countries. We believe

that this will enhance the movement of

the people, promote trade and

investment, reduce the cost of doing

business and enable the provision of

affordable goods and services. Major


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roads will be constructed and

rehabilitated linking various districts

and provinces. We will also

rehabilitate and tarmac the main roads,

joining our country to Somalia,

Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda and

Tanzania.

Livestock Industries in theASALs: The livestock industry willbe developed to enable better lives for

livestock producers and to make it

play a crucial role in the development

of the country. In order reduce the

distances that livestock traders have to

travel to access to markets we will

establish meat, hides and skins

processing plants within the ASALs.

We must also support and expand

livestock health services and promote

the improvement of quality of

livestock breeds and introduce better

range management in the ASALs.

Basic Services: We must expand theinfrastructure in education, health and

sanitation in ASALs to promote

the development of human resources.

In order to enable pastoralists children

pursue their education, we must

establish and support boarding schools

in ASAL areas. We must also ensure

that classrooms are constructed in

these areas to enable more children go

to school. Health services will be

improved by fully furnishing andstaffing them with qualified medical

personnel. Other areas where the

government will put more emphasis

will the development of fishing and

promotion of sustainable livelihoods

through the provision of credit, and

support of other guidelines as

stipulated by the recovery and

development master plan for the

ASAL.

Resolving Conflicts in PastoralAreas: We believe that conflicts in

pastoral areas are a failure of the

countrys governance anddevelopment efforts. We will devise

ways and develop mechanisms of

preventing conflict, displacements and

associated humanitarian crises in

pastoral and ASAL areas. Through its

development programs in ASAL,

CORD must create conditions for

peace, security and stability which

will prevent or discourage conflict,

human rights violations and

destitution. A prosperous, peacefuland safe ASAL areas is in the

CORDs andKenyas interest;

Promoting diversification of activitiesin ASALs. We must encourage

investment in the ASAL areas in

tourism and other service industries;

crop production and trading among

other investments to further promote

development and integration of

ASALs in the modern economy.

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 House

Menelik 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.
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