THE KENYA WE WANT

Kenyans remember the juicy speeches that were delivered by our political leaders during the 'Kenya we want' conference. The foreign diplomats even ventilated their views on what they thought would be good for the large majority of Kenyans.

A lot was discussed about the acceleration of the implementation and achievement of Millenium Development Goals by 2015. All speakers concurred that the realization of Vision 2030 would be a milestone achievement for the future generations. The cardinal question is: Is the government living in the true spirit of that conference?

While we should never chastise and criminalize the government for everything, it would be paramount to point out that a lot needs to be done. As a matter of priority, our national unity is under a severe litmus test after the 2007 post-election crisis.

We need first to cement a strong Kenyan relationship, not based on Kikuyu-Kamba alliances or Luo-Kalenjin groupings but comprised of all kenyans. This will form the backbone our political, economic, and social stability.

Secondly, we need to treat the implementation of Agenda 4 items as postulated in the National Accord. The government must move with speed to institute constitutional, institutional, and legal reforms. We need to hasten our pace of implementing land reforms through the formulation and implementation of the National Land Use Policy. Poverty reduction through enhancement of Women's Enteprise Fund, community empowerment, and equal distribution of national income should be accelerated.

Youth unemployment should be addressed as a matter of urgency in order to ensure that a majority of young people are gainfully employed or engaged in meaningful economic activities. We need to enhance the Youth Enterprise Development and increase access to credit for the majority of young people. Youth Empowerment Centres should be established without delay, as the government pursues the revitalization of youth polytechnics for vocational training.

These are just but a few areas in which the government should urgently address if we are to make a meaningful head start. Therefore, we should not criticize and trash the draft constitution without suggesting the changes we need. The MPs should not sabotage the Special Tribunal Bill without suggesting optimal ways of ending impunity in the future.

These are the moments for constructive criticism and collective effort and action. Every single Kenyan should make a positive contribution to help procure the change we need. We cannot wait to see a repeat of 2007. Kenya can change and become the beacon of hope and prosperity for its citizens.


Chris

Tribal Chauvinism must be stopped

Tribal chauvinism is a threat to national reconciliation and stability in any given country. It happened in Rwanda and the Rwanda genocide has a left a bitter pill in the throats of the Rwandan people. In the name of a constitutional referendum in 2005, we balkanized and polarized our nation.

Two years later, poor kenyans massacred fellow kenyans in the name of a stolen general election. People were burnt in houses and churches and the images of the post-election crisis remind us of the cruelty of negative ethnicity.

This is the reason why the debate about the KKK alliance should not be given the latitude and time to take root. The architects of this alliance are mere political opportunists. Their political rhetoric is not what Kenyans want to hear. Their promise for a better Kenya in fundraising events is just but hot air.

We do not need a Kamba, Kikuyu, and Kalenjin alliance. Neither do we need a Luo, Kalenjin, and Luhya alliance. For heaven's sake, Kenya has more than 42 tribes. If we need an political alliance, then the 42 plus tribes must be represented. This is what national harmony and cohesion is all about.

While we cannot tolerate the manner in which poor Kenyans are being evicted from Mau forest, we should never politicize the environmental issue. The attempts to gang up into tribal cocoons to undermine the concerted efforts of conserving the environment lacks wisdom.

The Prime Minister should never be demonised in the implementation of government policy. Any misgivings in the way the government is manning its affairs should be addressed in diplomatic and amicable ways. The confrontational attitude of some of our leaders leaves a lot to be desired.

In the final analysis, kenyans rise and fall as one whether poor or rich, whether educated or uneducated, whether Luo, Kamba, Mijikenda, Kalenjin or any other tribe. The problems bedevilling us are many and common. When the poor folks cannot produce enough food for subsistence use, the economy suffers and the wealthy cry as a result.

We do not have a Western problem. We do have a North Eastern problem. We do not have a Rift Valley problem. Neither do we have a Nyanza or Coast problem. We have a Kenyan problem. We need a common purpose and a Kenyan solution rather than a tribal solution.

Chris
Article published in the Standard(04/12/09) and DN(05/12/09)

Youth Employment- A Matter of National Urgency

The demise of the Kazi Kwa Vijana Programme is both regrettable and unbelievable. A few corrupt people have once again destroyed the dreams of young people who had seen the hope of employment in the programme.
The bad news is that the 15- billion Marshal Youth Plan is simply no more. Several painful questions beg honest answers.

First, why did the government allow bureacracy to impede the success of the programme? We could have allowed the Ministry of Youth affairs to man the programme rather than allowing the busy PM's office and provincial administration to coordinate it. Besides, there seemed to have been no checks and balances in the disbursement of the programme funds.

Secondly, why did we have to throw transparency and accountability in the management of the programme funds? Apparently, this has been this country's major undoing in the management of similar projects. The fact that the death of the initiative came as a shock to many youth who depended on it for employment is disturbing.

There should have proper channels of communication as how much money has been disbursed, how much has been allocated for each project activity, when the funds will be paid, and honest explanation incase of there are delays in paying the youth.

Thirdly, are we going to allow a few people to oppress the vulnerable through their appetite for corruption? The youth have sacrificed time and energy to get community development projects completed. They offered their blood, toil, and sweat only a few people to shortchange them. This should be the last thing that should happen if we care about the youth in this country.

The bottom line is that we can allow ourselves to shatter the hopes and livelihoods of the youth with such sickening abandon. A bitter young population is a recipe of serious social and economic problems in this country.

The provision of employment to the youth should be a priority and a matter of national urgency. Those who thwart the efforts of the government in youth employment creation should regarded as enemies of Vision 2030.

We should never allow anyone to use and dump the young people. Empowerment of the youth is a sure key that unlocks development in any nation. In the words of Benjamin Disraeli, the youth of a nation are the trustees of its posterity.

Chris

Prof. Wangari Maathai- In her own words

"We will be judged harshly by nature for every tree that we cut with sheer ignorance"- Christopher Mutisya

-It's the little things citizens do. That's what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.

-We are sharing our resources in a very inequitable way. In a few decades, the relationship between the environment, resources and conflict may seem almost as obvious as the connection we see today between human rights, democracy and peace.

-If you want the future generations to live in peace, we must invest in the protection of the environment and we must train especially our young people so that they don't think, for example, the whole world is like Japan.

-We can work together for a better world with men and women of goodwill, those who radiate the intrinsic goodness of humankind.

-You must not deal only with the symptoms. You have to get to the root causes by promoting environmental rehabilitation and empowering people to do things for themselves. What is done for the people without involving them cannot be sustained.

-African women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are - to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence.

-I am working to make sure we don't only protect the environment, we also improve governance.

-It's a matter of life and death for this country, ... The Kenyan forests are facing extinction and it is a man-made problem.

-If they had resources, they would not be killing each other over grazing ground and water.

-Why has there been so much secrecy about AIDS? When you ask where did the virus come from, it raises a lot of flags. That makes me suspicious.

-We are very fond of blaming the poor for destroying the environment. But often it is the powerful, including governments, that are responsible.

-The privilege of a higher education, especially outside Africa, broadened my original horizon and encouraged me to focus on the environment, women and development in order to improve the quality of life of people in my country in particular and in the African region in general.

-Some say that AIDS came from the monkeys, and I doubt that because we have been living with monkeys from time immemorial, others say it was a curse from God, but I say it cannot be that.

-The people are learning that you cannot leave decisions only to leaders. Local groups have to create the political will for change, rather than waiting for others to do things for them. That is where positive, and sustainable, change begins.

-Women are responsible for their children, they cannot sit back, waste time and see them starve.

-It is important to nurture any new ideas and initiatives which can make a difference for Africa.

-There's a general culture in this country to cut all the trees. It makes me so angry because everyone is cutting and no one is planting.

-The essential role of the environment is still marginal in discussions about poverty, ... While we continue to debate these initiatives, environmental degradation, including the loss of biodiversity and topsoil, accelerates, causing development efforts to falter.

-I would be on my knees looking at them and admiring them, trying to have them on my neck, until my mother would call and wonder what ... I was doing in the river.

My take: How i wish the political leaders who have spend so much energy and time to politicise the conservation of our water catchment areas would heed to the words of the 2004 Nobel Prize Winner.

Chris

KENYA IS WELL ENDOWED

"No country can alleviate poverty if its leadership spends much of its time on what is politically expedient rather than economically prudent."- Christopher Mutisya

Kenya has a colossal amount of resources that can be tapped to improve the lives of its population. We are not short of human resources that spread across all professional disciplines. Kenyans are amazingly entrepreneural.

We have enjoyed peace and tranquility for many years which was severely threatened by the 2007 post-election violence. Our nation parks and game reserves present the world with a rare beauty. Our beaches are the envy of the world.

Kenyan soils are very fertile. We have so many rivers and lakes. The climate is not so unfavourable. So many positives favour us. However, we have found ourselves languishing at the bottom of growing economies as a low income country.

We seem not to emulate a country like Botswana, which is 70% covered by Kalahari Desert.The Southern Africa nation was among the poorest nations by 1966. Her landlocked status notwithstanding, her economic growth has eclipsed those experienced by the Asian Tigers. Today, Botswana is a middle income country and among the least corrupt in the world.

Our major undoing is indecision and inaction by our political leadership. There is too much political chest thumping, backbiting, and ethnic politics at the expense of economic development. Judicial reforms are being undertaken under the command of political expediency.

Environmental conservation seems to be a peripheral duty of our government. The government seem to lack the will to end impunity and uproot corruption in our society. The poorest of the poor are still inadequately reached.

Kenya can change and become a beacon of prosperity even before the actual deadline of Vision 2030. However, if change is to be realized, the government must learn the urgency of the moment.

Let us conserve the environment to help us address the food, water, and energy crises. Let us subsidise our farmers in order to beef up food security in the country. Let us sell a national brand where each kenyan sees the other from a kenyan rather than from a tribal perspective. The government must step up its support for youth and women entrepreneurship. We can do simple things in great ways to change this country.

Chris

Article published in The Standard August 18th, 2009

Nature is unforgiving!

"Is it possible and sustainable for any nation to import food, water, and energy? I have serious doubts. We must change the way we handle our environment."- Christopher Mutisya


Do not shoot me! I am Che Guevera and worth more to you alive than dead. These were the words of Che Guevara, the Argentinian revolutionary when he was captured in Bolivia in 1967. The same words would sound to Kenyans as: Do not destroy me! I am Environment and worth more to you conserved than degraded. This is the unalloyed truth we must all face.

Mau, Aberdare, Mt. Kenya, Cherengani Hills, and Mt. Elgon are worth our rivers, lakes, springs, wildlife, crops, and energy. The conservation of the entire ecosystem will guarantee prosperity in our agricultural, health, and tourism sectors. Peace and harmony will only be possible if we protect our nature. Economic growth is a sure thing if concerted efforts are made to manage and conserve the environment.

There is no time for small talk about who did what and when to the environment. There is no time for those who have encroached on our forests to decide on when to move out. It is a matter of necessity and emergency.

It is an abuse to Kenyans to hold any more conferences and give environmental speeches. We are living on borrowed time. We know our mistakes and should embark on doing what is right. Our environment is shouting loudly for help. An environment disaster is in the offing.

Let us face it: Too much talk does not cook rice.

Chris

Mombuni Youth for Change- We can do it!

" True leadership is selfless and life-changing"- Christopher Mutisya


Great countries are born of great leaders. Great leaders often come up with policies that outlive them. They make a real difference in the lives of their people. They model more leaders than followers. They do not watch things from the sidelines. They are part and parcel of the real action. These are the leaders that inspire the agenda of Mombuni Youth for Change.

President Barack Obama rose from the humble beginnings of a community organizer to remind the whole world that hope and a chance to live a better life remains a reality. He has inspired millions of young people to move from the ordinary to extraordinary in the his 'Yes We Can' slogan.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela will forever be emblazoned in the hearts of every man and woman. Even after fighting Apartheid in South Africa and serving for 27 years in Robben Island prison, he handed over power to Thabo Mbeki after serving between 1994-99. A selfless leader indeed; the icon of true leadership. It pains to see age catching up with him.

Prof. Wangari Maathai, the founder of Green Belt Movement and the 2004 Nobel Prize Laureate remains a true role model to both the young and old. Her continued quest for environment conservation and conflict resolution are the hallmarks of her desire for a better society. Remember the statement: Nature is so unforgiving. Her perseverance during the former oppressive regime is a true inspiration to those who want a better tomorrow.

In 1964, the world had the youngest recepient of the Nobel Prize- Martin Luther King Jr. Without fear or favour, he spoke boldly about racial justice and the need to grant freedom to all. Remember his speech 'I have a Dream' that came to pass in November 4, 2008. Remember his speech ' A Time to break Silence', where he strongly war against Vietnam that killed over a million Vietnmese, particularly children. Remember his speech 'I can see the Mountaintop' shortly before he was assassinated in 1968. His contribution to selfless and transformational leadership is incredible. He is the hero of heroes.

Mohathir bin Mohamad may not be a household name to many but he remains the fulcrum behind Malaysian economic growth and modernisation. He led his country into emulating the Asian Tigers- Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong by formulating splendid economic policies. He will remain one of the most influential leaders in Asia. A man of the Malaysian people.

Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime Minister of Singapore demonstrated the value vision and dedication is all about. A nation led by a visionary leader flourishes. Singapore is today one of the most developed countries in the world. The GDP per capita stands at $52,000. Lee spearhead the formulation of environmental management policies. Talk of preserving nature for his people.

The list is endless. These are the leaders who inspire the activities of Mombuni Youth for Change. We will go the extra mile to improve the lives of our mothers and fathers. We will make it happen for our young brothers and sisters.

We will never abdicate our responsibility in creating a better society. Mohathir of Malaysia, Seretse Khama of Botswana, Madiba of South Africa, Lee of Singapore, and many others have done it. Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi, Baraka Obama, and Paul Kagame of Rwanda are making a difference. Why not Mombuni Youth for Change? We can do it. Yes we can!

Christopher Mutisya,
Chairperson,
Mombuni Youth for Change.

Kenya needs Change!

The food, water, and energy crises in the country are threatening to throw into jeopardy the economic and social development agenda. The unrelenting vampire of corruption in both private and public institutions is equally detrimental to our economic and social fabric.

Ethnic politics is still a major obstacle in postering peace and tranquility in our beloved country. There is a sheer lack of nationhood and common purpose among most of our leaders. In the midst of this crisis, valuable lessons have been learnt. We now need to change course.

The Chinese have it that crisis has the face of danger and opportunity. It would be dangerous if we do not move fast to address the destruction of Mau Complex and other wetlands. Our food crisis will escalate if we do not subsidise farm inputs for both small-scale and large-scale farmers. The environmental disaster we are currently facing will soon claim lives if we do not urgently commence a multi-faceted tree planting program.

Corruption will stagnate our economic growth if we do not suffocate the arteries and veins that engender it. Ethnicity will polarise this country in years ahead if we do not address it now. Something has to give.

However, we have an opportunity to make a positive change out of the mess we have created ourselves.The stage is set for this country to look straight into its political, social, environment, and economic problems.

The government should orchestrate elaborate environment, food, and water policies that will make the attainment of the 2015 Millenium Development Goals and actualization of Vision 2030 a reality.

Change will mean that Kenyans are assured of a normal supply of water, food, and electricity, and can participate in a violence-free electoral process. It is possible to create a better Kenya for Kenyans.

Chris

(Article published in The Standard 14th August, 2009)

Failing to plan is planning to fail!

The current drought and famine conditions ravaging the country leaves many questions begging for answers. In the first case, did we have a strategic plan feed our population in the wake of the failure of rains for two or three years? Has the government utilized the entire capacity of its food baskets to produce enough food for all Kenyans? Are the agricultural resources allocated equitably to all regions to ensure food production is beefed up?

What is the government doing about the reintroduction of tradtional crops like yams, arrow roots, sweet potatoes, cassava, millet, and sorghum as sure solutions to food insecurity? With Kenya having better soils, a better economy, and a better climate than Malawi, why should the latter export maize and not Kenya?

While these questions are mind boggling, they bring to fore the deficiencies we have as a country. The government has abdicated its responsibility in planning for the growing population. This failure can be witnessed by the 10 million people starving across the country.

We have encroached on our largest water tower in East Africa, the Mau Complex, which has helped to reduced water levels in our rivers and dams. This has hampered crop production. Agriculture in rural areas remains relegated to the periphery since very few resources are allocated to boosted food production in these areas.

The government should put its act together and plan for increased food production. Mau encroachment should be halted as a matter of urgency. Malawi offers a fine example that food security is real and attainable. Our leaders should not amplify politics at the expense of environmental conservation, water conservation, and food production.

Rural areas should get a better share of the agricultural resources. We can free ourselves from hunger in less than five years if the government has the will and commitment to do so. In the words of Calvin Coolidge, we cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.

Chris
(Article published in the Daily Nation, 12th August, 2009)

Kenya at Crossroads!

It is an open secret that the many years of destroying the Mau Complex have finally caught up with Kenya. Primed as the largest water tower in East Africa, the complex is seriuosly under seige and threatened with extinction. Several rivers flowing to Lake Victoria are drying up. Lake Nakuru is drying up and the saltiness of its waters is increasing at a sickening pace. The breeding of flamingoes in this beautiful lake is slowly dying out.

River Mara is drying up and the famous wildebeest migration is gradually becoming less spectactular. Power stations are closing up. Water is now a luxury to both rural and urban dwellers. Farmers neighbouring the Mau forest are now witnessing unprecedented drought conditions. Farmers expect hardly any maize and wheat harvests in our traditional food baskets in Rift valley. An understated 10 million kenyans are starving for lack of at least one meal a day. The list is endless.

Yet, after these warning signals, some leaders are sounding petty, selfish, irresponsible, and nothing but tribal warlords. They are advocating ethnicity under the veil of protecting the interests of their people; the very cause of last year's post-election violence. They are pretending to defend the people who elected them to positions of power and threatening to plunge this country to chaos by issuing inflammatory statements. Such is the height of our selflish, visionless, and myopic leadership.

The bottom line is that, we will forgive and forget the ills meted against innocent Kenyans during the 2007 post-election violence. However, the present and the future generations will never forgive those who militate against environmental conservation. The environment and human life are completely intertwined. The restoration of Mau forest is a matter of urgency and necessity.

When our rivers and lakes dry up and subsequently rains fail, will bad leadership import water and food for over 30 million Kenyans? The times are serious for such irresponsible and unbecoming leadership. We will be judged harshly by the many things we destroyed but fairly by the many lives we helped to preserve.

Christopher Mutisya,
Chairperson,
Mombuni Youth for Change

Our Contacts

For any information regarding Mombuni Youth for Change, we can be reached through;

mombuniyouth@gmail.com
chris.mutisya@gmail.com

Cell Phone +254 723 933955

We will be glad to hear or read from you.

Thank you.

Let us Conserve the Environment

Dear Hon Prime Minister

The Green Belt Movement (GBM) commends your hard work in environmental conservation, particularly of forested mountains.The GBM seeks your support on several issues touching on the environment and sustainable development.
First, environmental education should be a universal, compulsory subject at all levels. For many years, the GBM has advocated for its introduction as an examinable subject to no avail.Such education and training would give wananchi, majority of who depend on agriculture and tourism, an appreciation, awareness and positive attitude towards the environment and equip them with skills and best practices towards its management.

Second, vanishing wetlands are a major environmental concern. In Nairobi alone, we have lost more than ten key wetlands to real estate developers. This has been despite protests, court injunctions and even interventions by your ministers. Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha are drying up due to lack of environmental management plans.

National menace

Third, flimsy plastic bags continue to be a national menace. A Government intervention seeking to ban them was reversed. These plastics pose a serious danger to public health, domestic animals and are non bio-degradable.

Fourth, rain water harvesting is essential to address water scarcity. This can be done from roof catchments, run off and appropriate agricultural practices like terracing and cut off drains. There is need to have a policy that requires property owners to incorporate water harvesting in their building plans.

Fifth, clearing of vegetation on road reserves is a long established practice within the Roads ministry. It facilitates soil erosion and subsequent land degradation and results in siltation in dams and destruction of the coral reef and other marine life.

It also goes against the principle of conserving biodiversity and sequestering carbon emissions.

Through Kazi kwa Vijana, the youth should plant trees and vegetation along road reserves and harvest water along the highways and on farms. The GBM is willing to work with relevant ministries to ensure we do not destroy the environment as we engage young people in productive work.

Sixth, the five water towers — Mau Forest complex, Aberdare Ranges, Mt Kenya, Cherengani Hills, Mt Elgon — and other forest blocs are vital to the country. Their destruction due to human settlements, grazing of domestic animals and the re-introduction of the Shamba System contribute to water shortages, change in rainfall patterns and reduced agricultural production.

Courting disaster

We are courting disaster if this trend continues. In the case of the Mau Forest complex, while appreciating that the Government set up a Task Force to investigate the issue of human settlements in the Mau, a final report should have been out by now.
The GBM is ready to assist in whichever way you consider appropriate. We would be happy to give a presentation at your convenience.

Prof Wangari Maathai,
2004 Nobel Laureate,
Goodwill Ambassador of the Congo Basin Forest System

Walking the Environment Talk

Let us face the hard reality!

As the environmental conservation debate continues, we need to bring ourselves to the reality. We must stop talking the walk and urgently walk the talk on environmental issues. We must stop killing time because time will soon kill us. Yes, we must stop cutting down the arteries and veins that have kept us alive to this end. This is the moment to sit back and think of our actions towards our rivers, lakes, dams, forests, and wild animals.

Our own 2004 Nobel Prize Winner, Prof. Wangari Maathai, has stated consistently that nature is unforgiving. This cannot be further from the truth in light of what is happening in Kenya. Environmental destruction has caught up with us. We have grabbed wetlands and condemned our people to drought and famine. We have ruthlessly encroached Mau forest and destroyed it with sickening abandon. We have relentlessly cut down our indigenous trees as if we have another environment in waiting. Yet, we are doing little to restore the glory of our environment.

The impact of the wanton environmental destruction is now crystal clear. Our hydroelectric power stations are closing down. Water is now a real luxury in both urban and rural areas as water levels in dams and lakes subside and rivers dry up. The harsh reality of prolonged drought and famine is a familiar phenomenon in the country. People are eating baboons, donkeys, and dogs as noted in Pokot and Naivasha areas. This is what it has come down to. We either act or perish.

In agreement with the great Martin Luther King Jr., time is always right to do the right thing. We must stop cutting down trees with immediate effect and begin planting the right trees at a lightning pace. If 15 million Kenyans planted 10 trees each by the end of 2009, we will plant 150 million trees. The government should craft an ‘Annual Billion Tree Planting Program’ identical to what UNEP is doing. This calls for a new sense of urgency and responsibility from all and sundry.

Further, every Kenyan should support to the corporate bodies that have stood in solidarity to declare an end to the destruction of Mau forest. We all need to contribute whatever little we can towards the Mau reforestation campaign. The government should move fast and evict the illegal occupants of Mau forest for the sake of our lives. There should never be a debate in this matter. It is a do or die affair. This is our defining moment.

Compiled by,

Christopher Mutisya,
Chairperson,
Mombuni Youth for Change.
mombuniyouth@gmail.com

Doing the Extreme Makeover in the village

To all well-wishers, sponsors, and donors,

We clearly understand that the only way to get ahead is to get started. We have started the extreme makeover process for our village. Young people have started digging terraces and contours for water harvesting. We have began preparing holes in preparation of tree planting during the short rains in October. We are holding capacity-building and mobilisation meetings on a fortnight basis.

However, in order to reclaim the village's lost glory, we must push forward at a faster pace. We will need more community work tools, more trees, intense environmental conservation training, more youth social workers, and more community organizers among other essentials.

For a start, we urgently need the working tools/implements as follows:-

1. 15 Wheelbarrows .......... 67,500.00
2. 20 Spades/Shovels ......... 8,000.00
3. 10 Mattocks .................... 4,000.00
4. 20 Digging hoes ................4,000.00
5. 10 Fork Jembes .............. 3,500.00

Total in Kenya Shillings....87,000.00

Total in USD.........................1,130.00

These tools and implements will greatly increase our capacity and make our community social work a success. In fact, this is our most urgent need at the moment. With this support trees will be planted, earth roads repaired, and vegetable gardens brought up.

Please support us financially or in kind, to help us speed up the reconstruction of the village.

Feel free to ask for our details.

With gratitude,

Christopher Mutisya

Chairperson,

Mombuni Youth for Change.

Mombuni Village will be better!

It is now an open secret that the problems facing Mombuni village are real, many, and hurting the community. For a long time, nothing has been done. No one, neither the young nor the old stood up and declared war against poverty, disease, youth unemployment, illiteracy, and environmental destruction. Not even one man or woman stood up and rallied the people towards improving their very own lives.

Now, Mombuni Youth for Change has said it is enough of those years of hopelessness, poverty, hunger, and idle youth. We have refused the tendencies to be disappointed by the emptiness and dryness of our village. We refuse to listen and to believe the voices that tell us the situation is out of hand. We believe we can do something to alleviate hunger and environmental degradation. This is our moment.

For a long time, we have looked at the glass as half-empty. Now is the time to look at it as half-full. We cannot accept defeat even when all odds seem to be against us. We cannot lose hope even after going through 3 years of drought and famine. Somehow, we can sense a better tomorrow because we have made the most powerful step....getting started.

The youth have recognized the future of the people of Mombuni. They have started the search for that future and in the coming 3, 4, 5 years, we will secure and deliver the future to our people. We will plant a minimum of 100,000 trees annually. With our own hands, we will dig and maintain our earth roads. We will utilize our fertile but dry soils for serious agriculture because we can see the sinking of a borehole from a distance. We can feel it...somebody somewhere is listening to our cry and will soon respond. This is the length, width and depth of our faith.

With this faith, we have started digging terraces and contours in to harvest water to our farms come the short rains in October 2009. We are aggressively seeking for financial support to construct dykes and gabions in our already dry streams, because we expect to control soil erosion and conserve water come October. With this faith, we have began the process of educating our mothers and fathers, on the little and big things we need to do in order to get food on the table, achieve adequate nutritional status, increase income levels in each of the 200 families, and combat HIV/AIDS.

The era of indecision and inaction is over. We refuse to watch things happen in other countries. We refuse to wonder as ordinary people make their lives better, not bitter, through simple but extraordinary ways. We will make change happen in the village. The urgency of the moment inspires us to change the way things have been done in the village over the years.

The situation may be gloom but we promise you one thing: Freedom from hunger, disease, illiteracy, and poverty is coming tomorrow. We are determined to make a difference-a real difference.

Thank you all.

From the Chairperson's desk,

Christopher Mutisya.
Mombuni Youth for Change.

Request for Community Support

To all well-wishers and potential donors,

Our community is at the thick of chronic drought which has made food hard to come by. The only river that we depend on for water is slowly drying up after insufficient rains in the last 3 years. There is hardly any pasture remaining for the domestic animals. Most of our animals are dying on a daily basis, including the proven drought-resistant animal, the donkey.

The donkey is useful in fetching water for most families in the community. The death of our donkeys brings forth a difficult situationhas since women to trek long distances to get water for their families.

We need food to feed the poor (80% of the village) between now and January 2010 assuming the short rains will be sufficient. Food and water are the priorities at the moment.

The escalation of the food problem has resulted to a serious need of bursaries among secondary school students from the village. This is in appreciation that education will finally alleviate poverty in the village.

In summary, we need support in the following areas:-

1. Food
2. Water
3. School bursaries
4. Farming seeds- To assist over 100 peasant farmers to plant in October this year during the short rains.
5. Tree seedlings- To avert further environmental degradation

We will appreciate your consideration and help in these issues.

With kind regards,

Christopher Mutisya.
Chairperson,
Mombuni Youth for Change.

The Girl Child Problem in mombuni Village

Dear Readers,

I got this message through an SMS yesterday from a young girl who completed her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education(KCSE) in 2007.

''Please, would you like assisting me to find my way forward? I completed my form four in 2007 and had B(Constant). Sincerely, nobody seems to care about me. I have not yet dispaired coz i know that God will answer my prayers one day. I am still very devoted to carry on with my studies. I feel that i am 'Nowhere' placed in the society. May God bless you abundantly. Gloria Mutanu Manthi, Mombuni.'' Her Number is +254 713 664529

This message kept me dumbfounded for quite sometime. I thought about the life of the young girl and the many opportunities open in her life if she was given the educational support she really needs. Mark you, a B(Constant) allows her to do so many courses.

I called her today and she informed me that nobody is concerned about her quest to further her education. Her father has neglected her to the point that she has not even collected her final examination certificate in high school due to lack of bus fare to the school. Remember, her father is just but a peasant farmer in an area where rains have failed for the last 3 years. That notwithstanding, this poor girl needs help and urgently.

Well, i will facilitate her to collect her form four examination certificate and thereafter something must be done by me, you, and all wellwishers. We cannot afford to neglect the education of the girl child. You have heard, if you educate a man, you have educated an individual; but if you educate a woman, you have educated the family and the society.

My appeal is to all those that will read this post. Let us arise and make a difference to the life of this young girl. To her you might be the answer to her problem.

Thank you.

God bless you.

Christopher Mutisya
Chairperson,
Mombuni Youth For Change.
+254 723 933955

Real problems bedevilling Mombuni Village

As we embark on a journey to shape the future of the people of Mombuni Village, Mombuni Youth For Change wishes to spell out some of the problems facing the village community.

1. We have had no sufficient rains for the last three years and absolutely no agricultural produce has been realised ever since. The land is dry and parched.

2. Our people are facing an acute shortage of food as many struggle to put a single meal on table. These people need food as a matter of urgency.

3. There is a chronic shortage of clean drinking water. The nearest seasonal river is running dry by the wake of each day.

4. Our animals are dying with the passing of each day. The most revered animal, the donkey is struggling to survive the harsh drought conditions, an indication that the situation is gloom. There is hardly any pasture for grazing.

5. Many secondary school students are at home due to school fees arrears. This problem has been aggravated by the biting food shortage. We may see an increased number of school drop-outs if nothing is done urgently.

6. HIV/AIDS victims are losing their lives due to lack of proper nutrition and counselling on the management of the pandemic.

7. The environment needs a serious face lift.

These are some of the problems we are grappling with and which we seek to address. We are committed to providing solutions to each of these problems. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one powerful step. We are prepared to start from scratch.

Mombuni Youth.

Welcome to Mombuni Village

Mombuni Youth for Change(MYFC) take this wonderful opportunity to welcome visitors, organisations,and all well-wishers to come and help us rebuild Mombuni village, in Yatta District, Kenya.

We aim to change the face of Mombuni village by pursuing the following objectives;

1. Creating HIV/AIDS awareness within the Mombuni community
2. Initiating entrepreneural activities to alleviate youth unemployment
3. Spearheading environmental conservation through an aggressive tree planting program
4. Taking the lead in community social work like the manual repair of community feeder roads
5. Carrying out regular civic education programs within the Mombuni community.

Mombuni Youth for Change Cherishes the following values;

a) Hard work and Sacrifice
b) Honesty and Responsibility
c) Pro-activity and Persistence
d) Dedication and Devotion
e) Transparency and Accountability

We have the firm believe that together we will make it happen for the people of Mombuni.

Thank you.