by Sauti Yetu | Mar 21, 2018 | Stories
On 21st March, 2018 Sauti Yetu, together with community based organizations based in Rhonda ward, NAKURU County: Rhonda Residents Association, Topise Community base Organization and Mwaronda Company limited, organized for a Joint Community forum in Rhonda ward. The forum was held at Adassa Social hall. The duty bearers invited to this forum were: the ward administrator, the elected member of County Assembly, Rep from Nakuru Water and Sewage Company (Nawasco). The Joint Community Forum was attended by Hon. Timothy Kabutu Rhonda ward Member of Count Assembly, Caroline Gathura Ward Administrator and Mrs Zainabu Kimenje Rep from Nakuru Water and Sewage Company.The Joint Community Forum was attended by 83 participants including 36 Males and 47 Females.
Mrs Zainabu Kamenje used the platform to take the community through the issues concerning Nakuru Water and Sewage Company.
Caroline Gathura Rhonda ward administrator outlined the various sectors that County Government is working on, and then she invited Hon. Timothy Kabutu to respond to community concerns.
Key priority issues identified by the community and the duty bearers in the forum for follow up included:
Insecurity
- Along sewage area thieves mugging, and used it as hide out.
- Community requesting Nakuru water and sewage to fence it
Water and Sanitation
- Shortage of water in most areas of Rhonda Mwariki ward.
- No sewer line in Mwareki area
- No Drainages in most areas of Rhonda ward
Unemployment – most of the youth around Rhonda ward don’t have jobs
On the issue of fencing the area around the sewage site in the ward, Mrs Zainabu requested the community to support the request with a formal request in writing to Nawasco to act on it.
Sanitation – to improve on sanitation Nawasco had a project of supporting Landlords with Nine thousand shillings to build a pit latrine toilet.
Nakuru water and Sewer Company is planning to build sewer around Rhonda Mwareki.
Hon. Timothy Kabutu Rhonda ward Member of County Assembly used sauti yetu platform to engage residents on key priority issues of the ward. He took the opportunity to invite youths for youth elections in the ward which was scheduled to take place on March 23rd 2018. He promised to work with them and appoint some in his development committee. He also invited Sauti yetu team officially to attend the election as observers of which we attended. Youths turned up in large numbers from 7 villages of Rhonda. The election was peaceful free and fair.
Residents of Rhonda Ward established a Community Action Committee that will work hand in hand with the duty bearers to track and follow up of resolution of concerns raised by the residents in the areas of above mentioned sectors and other emerging issues.
The community action group comprises members of the community from each Village of Rhonda ward. They include: John Kariuki, Mary Wairimu, Martin Ngare, Wilfred Waire, Boniface Kariuki, Molly Adero, Stella Wangui, Susa Njeri, Ann Muthoni, Onesmus Gachira, Grace Njeri, and Daniel Ragira.
Felix Odhiambo Sharing Objective of the Forum at Rhonda ward Joint Community Forum.
by Sauti Yetu | Feb 21, 2018 | Stories
On 21st February, 2018 Sauti Yetu, together with community based organisations held a joint community forum at Flamingo Ward, Nakuru Town West Sub-County in Nakuru County. The community based organisations involved included Flamingo Residents associations, Lekeren Women Self Help Group and Community Health Volunteers. The forum was held at the Langa Langa Dispensary Ground, in Flamingo ward and brought together residents of the various villages in Flamingo Ward, community leaders, community groups, local administration, and individuals
Among the leaders present included: Hon. Eddy Kiragu Member of the County Assembly, Mr. Gitonga Kinyanjui Ward Administrator Kivumbini who was standing for Joan Kandie, Flamingo Wad Administrator and Mr George Nyaga; the area Chief Flamingo.
The event was attended by 142 participants: 49 male and 93 female
Key developmental issue deliberated upon by the residents and their immediate duty bearers included:
Environment
- Proper garbage collection picking points around flamingo
- Youths requesting to be given tree planting contracts.
- Youths to be supported with fertilizer to do urban farming.
- Provision of Green house.
Health
- Langa Langa Dispensary new wing to be finished to start working.
- Hospital sewer line to be upgraded.
- Lack of enough water at the hospital.
- Maternity for women at Langa langa Dispensary.
- Community health workers requesting to be included in the budget.
- Langa Langa to be upgraded to be 24 hours operation.
Infrastructure
- To build Sewer line in Kimathi, Pangani, Lake View and Race Corse estate,
- Build culverts in Lake View, Pangani and Race Corse estate.
- Residents of Flamingo demanding to be given County houses that they were promised by the former Governor after paying in installments has a rent.
- Public toilets for people doing business along Lake Nakuru National Park and Lake view estate.
- Flamingo County houses need urgent Roofing repair.
- Residents Demanding Chimney that is burning waste at the Langa Langa Dispensary to be build higher, its bringing health hazard.
- Youth and Women Income generating activities in Flamingo ward
Education
- County Government to start employing ECD teachers soon
- Construction of Flamingo Education Resource center
- The Member of County Assembly used the platform to engage residents on key priority issues.
- To push for the repair of County houses roofing.
- Clearance of the drainage system in Langa Langa, Pangani estate, Lake View
- To push for public toilet to be built in Flamingo estate along National park for our people doing business.
Ward Administrator committed to work with Member of County Assembly together with Community to implement projects that the residents of Flamingo ward had proposed
Ten (10) community members volunteered to form the initial Community Action Group to follow through on the above mentioned issues, They were selected two people per village also gender was consider, selected members of community were, Vincent Gumo, Linet Kerubo, Isaack Nderitu, Grace Wamaitha, Lilian Khamasi, Jane Wambui, Chege Karanja, Sheila Wanjiku, Mary Wangare, James Mburu and Lucy Mucheki.
by Sauti Yetu | Dec 2, 2017 | Stories
On 2nd December 2017, Sauti Yetu in collaboration with Haidhafin Physically and Challenged Disabled Group organized a civic education forum with people with special needs from Garissa Township Sub-County at IRDO Bulla Masalani; Waberi ward.
The civic education forum aimed enhancing the knowledge of people with special needs from Garissa Township sub-county about their rights and participation in decision making process. The civic education forum also aimed at highlighting to the participants key areas of opportunities in governance for persons with special needs and how they could tap into these opportunities either as individuals or as organized groups.
The Garissa Civic education forum with persons with special needs was attended by over 72 participants including 37 male and 15 female. Participants were taken through the constitution and the Acts relating to People with Disability.
Participants used the forum outline key areas of concern regarding their welfare and participation in decision making processes in Garissa.
They chairman of Haidhafin Physically and Challenged Disabled Group reported that many persons with special needs in Garissa that their key issues of concern are not taken into consideration by their immediate duty bears particularly the office of the war administrator and that of the Member of the County Assembly. He explained that most of the challenges facing persons with disability have never featured in the county assembly of Garissa. The issue of concern presented by chairman of Haidhafin Physically and Challenged Disabled Group included:
- Lack of representation in the county assembly
- Lack of supportive equipment such as walking sticks for the blind, wheel chairs and baby walker for kids for most people with special needs;
- Lack of friendly spaces for people with disability in many of the government offices in the county making it difficult for persons with disability to interact with these offices;
- Lack of enough centers of learning for persons with special needs in Garissa County;
The predicaments of persons with specials needs education was summed up by one of the participants: “I have tried to visit the offices of those who can help me buy the walking shoe because I was born with one leg but they normally ignore me and they always leave me there stranded…so had to take a loan from our Chama to buy this shoe am wearing which is very expensive.”
Participants called upon immediate duty bearers particularly the office of the ward administrator and that of the Member of the County Assembly to involve the in public participation processes and prioritizes their issues of concern in planning processes.
by Sauti Yetu | Nov 29, 2017 | Stories
On 29th November 2017 Sauti yetu together with identified community based organization, Organized a joint community forum in Barut ward Primary School in Barut Ward, Nakuru west Sub County. The organization that took lead in organizing the community dialogue forum included: Barut residents association, Barut community health organization (BACHO), Mwariki elders and Muungano ya Wanavijiji
The Joint Community Forum aimed at creating a platform where duty bearers and right holders came together to identify priority issues and to find a common ways of addressing them, The forum brought together residents from various villages of Barut Ward, Famers, Community leaders, Community groups, Local Administration, Individuals and Representative from the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS).
Member of County Assembly, Ward Administrator and Representative from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) sent apologies.
The forum was preceded by a meeting between the representatives of community group and the Sauti yetu team to harmonies ‘and guide on the days’ program, David Kahoro the community moderator from Barut resident introduced the participants and agenda of the day. Together with Sauti yetu team the moderator took the participant through previous identified issues and challenges faced in addressing these issues, the residents were invited to compliment the issue presented by contributing any additional issues that may be overlooked.
The community members identified and prioritized key issues within their ward. These included;
Environment and Human Wildlife Conflict
- The pollution of River Njoro
- Invasion of farms by army warms
- A dysfunctional consultative committee for human wildlife conflict that due to lack of sessions between the KWS and the community.
- Lack of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from the wildlife service in the ward
Governance – Public Participation
- Funds proposed by resident for construction of a market during the FY 2016/17 budget cycle could not be traced
- Funds proposed by residents for the FY 2017/18 budget cycle for construction of a bride had not been released
Health
- A proposed health center had not yet been constructed despite allocation in the current FY budget
Infrastructure
- The road reserve has been encroached yet money had been allocated in previous FYs by the National Government
- A street lighting project initiated in the last FY had stalled
Education
- Lack of qualified teachers in the area
Duty bearers in attendance were invited to respond to community concerns and together with the right holders come up with the way forward.
The Kenya Wildlife Services (KWA) Representative, M/S Nancy Akinyi the Lake Nakuru National Park, Which border Barut Ward began by introducing Kenya Wildlife Services their mandate and coverage of Lake Nakuru National Park, She outlined previous Human Wildlife Conflict areas and the mention, she pinpointed the new Legislation on Wildlife (Wildlife Act 2013), she pointed out that the act encompassed several proposals from the public including Compensation on damage caused by wildlife.
She outlined the process of Compensation in case of such damage and the committee in charge. However, apes, baboons, Monkeys and Moles are not included within the category that attract compensation in case of damage, she appealed to the community to exercise responsibility during construction, animal rearing and waste disposal to minimize the Baboon Menace. In her closing remarks, she impressed on the communities to lobby a review of the Legislation through the necessary Legislative bodies .KWS officer accepted invitation to attend a larger hematic forum that had been organized to address the common issue shared by different wards in the area.
Assistant Chief Oyawa outlined the issues of birth registration for children born around the sub-location. The Sr. Chief Kering spoke on the need to improve on the communication channel especially on initiatives by the National government. On the issue of grabbing of road reserves, he promised to take drastic action on the grabbers.
The forum led to the formation of Community Action Group (CAG) comprised of community members who had previously volunteered to follow up on community issues. The CAG was charged with the responsibility of initiating follow action with the relevant duty bearers and institutions on priority issues identified in the Ward.
by Sauti Yetu | Nov 25, 2017 | Stories
On 25th November, 2017 Sauti Yetu together with identified community based organisations from Kivumbini ward; Nakuru East Sub-County organised a Joint Community Forum in Kivumbini Ward.
The community groups that spearheaded the joint community forum had initially undergone a Toolkit Training and mentorship by Sauti Yetu that equipped them with the necessary skills required to organise community forums dialogue forums. The organisations involved included: Nakuru East Tenants Association (NATENA), Bright Life CBO and Great Heights initiative.
The forum brought together residents of Kivumbini Ward, business community, community leaders, the police, community groups, religious groups, individuals and a representative of the MCA. The Ward Administrator, who had been invited, sent an apology. The event was attended by 105 participants.
Key issues emanated from the Kivumbini community dialogue forum included:
Security
- The police were accused of soliciting for bribes during swoops and arbitrary arrests
- Mugging and robbery with violence around Mumias road
Health
- A proposed health center had not yet been constructed despite allocation in the current 2017/18 Financial Year budget
Infrastructure
- Sewer line need to be upgraded to accommodate the growing population
Education
- Need for a comprehensive policy on Early Childhood Development (ECD)
- Lack of ECD teachers in the area
Twelve (12) members of the community volunteered to form the initial Community Action Group to follow through on the issues of education, health and infrastructure with office of the ward administrator and that of the Member of the County Assembly for resolution.
Responding to issues of insecurity raised by the residents during the joint community forum, Ms Vera from the Bondeni Police Station blamed the members of the community for concealing vital information about criminals in the area that the police needed to help curb insecurity.
