Coast region residents have for many years suffered courtesy of historical land injustices that dates back in the early years of Kenya attaining her self rule. Over fifty years now majority of coasterians are still squatters on their own land and have never seen the value of their land,yet land is the biggest factor of production.
A report released on 20th May,2013 by the Truth,Justice and Reconciliation Commission TJRC indicated that the Mijikenda,Taita and Pokomo communities in the Coast have suffered the worst land-related injustices since independence and successive governments did little or nothing to solve the problem. TJRC in the report said land injustices was in different forms from alienation of public and trust land,special treatment of specific ethnic groups in settlement schemes at the expense of most deserving landless, forceful settlement of members of a community outside their homelands,forceful evictions and land grabbing by politicians who were in the same political correct bus with the government.While the above injustices were fueled and perpetuated by powerful government officials then and majority were not our own people. The Story of acquiring a loan worth hundreds of million from Development bank using a provisional GIRIAMA RANCH title deed,a piece of land which is about 66,000 acres in Bamba Ward,Ganze Sub County in Kilifi County is purely our own making a classic and well masterminded betrayal of the people by some top politicians and legal minds of the Mijikenda land. Those struggling to put the last nail on the coffin of Giriama ranch, people who are determined by all means to push to the further end of the storm any boat intending to help the locals in BAMBA get their shamba are our own sons and daughters of Kilifi. Those who worked hard to ensure Giriama Ranch is a private limited company are our own. Like dogs they have turned to our own hens which they should secure as the menu of the day.
GIRIAMA RANCH story is not new. It has been there for many years with politicians using it as a campaign tool to secure votes and then never again associate themselves with the problem. Last year the Giriama ranch issue came to limelight residents protested as usually politicians took advantage and gained political mileage then resorted to their comfort beds when the temperatures reduced and left the land grabbers and perpetuators of injustices to continue with their legally ways of grabbing the land only for the politicians to wake up when the guys are about to make billions using the public land.
The Giriama Ranch battle will be won by residents and the elites in community must spearhead the war by ensuring no developer will be ready to invest his billions in a no go zone land. And if politicians and lawyers must be procured then they must be vetted squarely because the enemy is within and has well established deep rooted political connections!!
Friday, July 27, 2018
YOU GOT THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE THINGS AROUND YOU.
As part of my daily early morning Entrepreneurship story reading. Today I had an opportunity to read two stories-it rarely happen because sometimes I go against my policy and fail to achieve even the single story requirement,but today I was up early than usual few minutes passed 3am therefore it was possible to go through two stories. The Alexander The Great story a King of the ancient Macedonia; In his leadership he managed to unite Greece,reestablished the Corinthian League and Conquered the Persian Empire. Alexander II or Alexander The Great lost not even a single battle in his rein as a King and a Leader. The second reading was about the story of COCOA in Ghana then Gold Coast-And this is the story I thought I should briefly share with you.
COCOA in Ghana is credited to one Tetteh Quarshie a pre-independence Ghanaian agriculturalist and person directly responsible for the introduction of Cocoa crops to Ghana. Tetteh Quarshie was born in 1842. In his teens he became an apprentice in Basel Mission workshop at Akropong. Due to his hard work he soon became a master blacksmith and was in fact the first blacksmith to be established at Akauapim-Mampong.His HOBBY was FARMING.
In 1870,Tetteh Quarshie undertook a voyage to Spanish colony Fernando Po now Equatorial Guinea. It is also believed he went there as a mere slave. About nine years later he returned to Ghana with several Cocoa beans.
In 1879 Tetteh Quarshie planted the seeds at Mampong. Friends and relatives also undertook the planting of Cocoa when pods were distributed to them. Soon other farmers followed suit. From Ghana Cocoa beans or cuttings were sent to other countries such as Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The export of Cocoa from Ghana began in 1891 twelve years after Tetteh Quarshie had plant the first coco plant in Ghana. Ghana exported only two bags of Cocoa that year. Between 1910-1980 over thirty years since Tetteh Quarshie returned to Ghana with cocoa seeds from Fernando Po Ghana was the World's largest Cocoa exporter.
Today as I write Cocoa-the Tetteh Quarshie's idea to Ghanaians is still the largest export in Ghana. The country earns hundreds of million dollars annually from export of beans and processed materials. COCOA accounts for almost 40% of the Country's GDP.
Look; A younger farmer out of his hard work went an extra mile to build the development foundation of a whole nation.
Even after exporting only two bags of cocoa 12years after planting of the first coco tree in Ghana. The Ghanaians did not give up on their journey instead they continued investing in cocoa farming and eventually they ended up being the World's largest Cocoa Exporters.
Yes; Telleh Quarshie did not know more than 100 years since his death on the Christmas day in 1892 millions of people will still depend on his single idea to survive and build their lives.
What are you doing now that is building the foundation of others and those yet to be born. Will people remember you because they will be benefiting directly or indirectly from your actions,idea or ideology?
I love kids and I like cracking jokes and playing with these innocent creatures. Yesterday while walking to my nearest five star kibanda to have lunch I came across three Kids building an imaginary house using some palm tree sticks. I told them to build once they finish I will go and sleep. The little among them said if I go and sleep in that house I pay. I wondered a small kid and money? Then I remembered his father is a property developer and real estate agent; the foundation!
COCOA in Ghana is credited to one Tetteh Quarshie a pre-independence Ghanaian agriculturalist and person directly responsible for the introduction of Cocoa crops to Ghana. Tetteh Quarshie was born in 1842. In his teens he became an apprentice in Basel Mission workshop at Akropong. Due to his hard work he soon became a master blacksmith and was in fact the first blacksmith to be established at Akauapim-Mampong.His HOBBY was FARMING.
In 1870,Tetteh Quarshie undertook a voyage to Spanish colony Fernando Po now Equatorial Guinea. It is also believed he went there as a mere slave. About nine years later he returned to Ghana with several Cocoa beans.
In 1879 Tetteh Quarshie planted the seeds at Mampong. Friends and relatives also undertook the planting of Cocoa when pods were distributed to them. Soon other farmers followed suit. From Ghana Cocoa beans or cuttings were sent to other countries such as Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The export of Cocoa from Ghana began in 1891 twelve years after Tetteh Quarshie had plant the first coco plant in Ghana. Ghana exported only two bags of Cocoa that year. Between 1910-1980 over thirty years since Tetteh Quarshie returned to Ghana with cocoa seeds from Fernando Po Ghana was the World's largest Cocoa exporter.
Today as I write Cocoa-the Tetteh Quarshie's idea to Ghanaians is still the largest export in Ghana. The country earns hundreds of million dollars annually from export of beans and processed materials. COCOA accounts for almost 40% of the Country's GDP.
Look; A younger farmer out of his hard work went an extra mile to build the development foundation of a whole nation.
Even after exporting only two bags of cocoa 12years after planting of the first coco tree in Ghana. The Ghanaians did not give up on their journey instead they continued investing in cocoa farming and eventually they ended up being the World's largest Cocoa Exporters.
Yes; Telleh Quarshie did not know more than 100 years since his death on the Christmas day in 1892 millions of people will still depend on his single idea to survive and build their lives.
What are you doing now that is building the foundation of others and those yet to be born. Will people remember you because they will be benefiting directly or indirectly from your actions,idea or ideology?
I love kids and I like cracking jokes and playing with these innocent creatures. Yesterday while walking to my nearest five star kibanda to have lunch I came across three Kids building an imaginary house using some palm tree sticks. I told them to build once they finish I will go and sleep. The little among them said if I go and sleep in that house I pay. I wondered a small kid and money? Then I remembered his father is a property developer and real estate agent; the foundation!
Sunday, July 1, 2018
COAST UNITY THE UPHILL TASK,BUT VERY POSSIBLE.
The TUFE MOVEMENT an idea by Governor A.J.Kingi of Kilifi County; Coast region owning a regional political party that leaders will use to champion for our social,economic and political interests national is very possible.
I must acknowledge the Coast Unity talk has been here with us for many years some before we were born the post independence coast region unity talk was already on. Much has been said and done but the bitter truth is the unity of purpose has never been achieved. I will single out the obvious reasons; recycling of selfish leaders,leaders who fear fighting for their people,failure by the educated and middle class to participate and invest in regional politics,failure by the voters to identify their interests as a region and vote in leaders with a message of sending them to go and do what they want-our leaders turn to bosses once elected because the electorates basically don’t know what they want,they don’t full participate in matters of governance and the well-being of their resources. All said and done today I will focus on two things. Why it is absolutely hard to have coast unity unlike in other regions and the only two possible ways of having coast unity and I repeat the ONLY TWO POSSIBLE WAYS OF HAVING COAST UNITY.
Every time one talks of coast unity,the person is either rubbished or assumed to be mad. We have people among us who firmly believe we cannot have one coast with one voice and this is attributed by the fact that Coast region unlike other regions is one homogenous region. Coast is inhabited by many small tribes making the large coast region Taita,Bajun,Oromo,swahili,Arab,Mijikenda being the majority of the inhabitants,if you move few kilometers from Magarini Sub County in Kilifi you may notice that a giriama woman in the same Sub County speak a different language from her neighbor a Oromo woman in Garsen Tana River County. The differences doesn’t end on the language but even some traditions,economic activities and political interests. To bring all these Sub tribes to one table without workable framework is a heavy task that may not see the light of the day anywhere in this planet.
THE ONLY TWO POSSIBLE WAYS TO HAVE COAST UNITY.
The TUFE MOVEMENT should be conducted in the six counties separately . Each county to produce her own County King pin-someone who has the biggest or rather the majority following in the respective county. The six leaders then join hands and make one big leather ball. This will reduce facing opposition when spreading the TUFE MOVEMENT gospel. Leaders of the six counties will feel they were involved and they will own up the initiative,have responsibility to ensure the movement go passed funeral gatherings to the professionals,religious leaders,business community,youth,women,and wazees. Leaders here must sacrifice their personal interests and be able to choose one leader who will represent the entire region.
Second and last option; politics like business is about interests and taking risks,the MIJIKENDA can take a political risk and choose to unite as Mijikenda. This will face opposition from our all time landlords,but it must be known in Kenya political parties are not built based on ideology but purely on tribes and regions. Am not encouraging tribalism but there comes a time when what MUST BE DONE MUST BE DONE. We encourage the others to choose either to join us in Kitchen now or join us on the table when the food is ready.
Am not a prophet but unless we choose either of the two options the Coast Unity may remain to be a white elephant project in the sea!!
I must acknowledge the Coast Unity talk has been here with us for many years some before we were born the post independence coast region unity talk was already on. Much has been said and done but the bitter truth is the unity of purpose has never been achieved. I will single out the obvious reasons; recycling of selfish leaders,leaders who fear fighting for their people,failure by the educated and middle class to participate and invest in regional politics,failure by the voters to identify their interests as a region and vote in leaders with a message of sending them to go and do what they want-our leaders turn to bosses once elected because the electorates basically don’t know what they want,they don’t full participate in matters of governance and the well-being of their resources. All said and done today I will focus on two things. Why it is absolutely hard to have coast unity unlike in other regions and the only two possible ways of having coast unity and I repeat the ONLY TWO POSSIBLE WAYS OF HAVING COAST UNITY.
Every time one talks of coast unity,the person is either rubbished or assumed to be mad. We have people among us who firmly believe we cannot have one coast with one voice and this is attributed by the fact that Coast region unlike other regions is one homogenous region. Coast is inhabited by many small tribes making the large coast region Taita,Bajun,Oromo,swahili,Arab,Mijikenda being the majority of the inhabitants,if you move few kilometers from Magarini Sub County in Kilifi you may notice that a giriama woman in the same Sub County speak a different language from her neighbor a Oromo woman in Garsen Tana River County. The differences doesn’t end on the language but even some traditions,economic activities and political interests. To bring all these Sub tribes to one table without workable framework is a heavy task that may not see the light of the day anywhere in this planet.
THE ONLY TWO POSSIBLE WAYS TO HAVE COAST UNITY.
The TUFE MOVEMENT should be conducted in the six counties separately . Each county to produce her own County King pin-someone who has the biggest or rather the majority following in the respective county. The six leaders then join hands and make one big leather ball. This will reduce facing opposition when spreading the TUFE MOVEMENT gospel. Leaders of the six counties will feel they were involved and they will own up the initiative,have responsibility to ensure the movement go passed funeral gatherings to the professionals,religious leaders,business community,youth,women,and wazees. Leaders here must sacrifice their personal interests and be able to choose one leader who will represent the entire region.
Second and last option; politics like business is about interests and taking risks,the MIJIKENDA can take a political risk and choose to unite as Mijikenda. This will face opposition from our all time landlords,but it must be known in Kenya political parties are not built based on ideology but purely on tribes and regions. Am not encouraging tribalism but there comes a time when what MUST BE DONE MUST BE DONE. We encourage the others to choose either to join us in Kitchen now or join us on the table when the food is ready.
Am not a prophet but unless we choose either of the two options the Coast Unity may remain to be a white elephant project in the sea!!
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
THE COAST OR RATHER KILIFI YOUTHS NEED A REVOLUTION,BUT A REVOLUTION OF THEIR MINDS.
On 4th August,2010 Kenyans of all life overwhelmingly voted for the new constitution. The 2010 edition which replaced the 1963 independence constitution was approved by over 65% of Kenyan voters. The most important thing that this constitution gifted Kenyans with which every youth in this republic must embrace is devolution.
Devolution as a form governance had the following objectives;
1. to promote democratic and accountable exercise of power;
2. to foster national unity by recognizing diversity;
3. to give powers of self-governance to the people in the exercise of powers of the state and in making decisions affecting them;
4. to recognize the right of communities to manage their own affairs and to further their development;
5. to protect and promote interests and rights of minorities and marginalized communities;
6. to promote social and economic development and the provision of proximate,easily accessible services throughout Kenya;
7. to ensure equitable sharing of national and local resources throughout Kenya;
8. to facilitate the decentralization of state organs,their functions and services,from the capital of Kenya; and
9. to enhance checks and balances and separation of power.
All the above objectives much more numbers 3,4,5,6 are a recipe of many opportunities that the youths can grab and uplift their living standards. From directly employment by devolved government, offering services and supply of goods directly to government or starting small businesses and benefit from sales from the former and the later beneficiaries of the system,six years ago Kilifi town was a ghost town with small population currently the town is witnessing rising population offering market opportunities for different goods and services from land and housing,cloth line businesses,food stuffs,health sector,entertainment you can name them. Devolution was my point of reference to drive my point home; Are Kilifi youths ready for the many opportunities available? My answer will be capital NO. As a youth who has chaired several self help groups and investment groups I can confirm working with a Mijikenda youth on investment and private businesses is a tall order an assignment worth human blood we tend to complain more instead of taking responsibility. A quick check at Sub County Uwezo funds,youth and women funds offices reveals there has been low funds absorption by locals in terms of loans. With the established financial institutions within the county those taking loans from banks for the purpose of doing businesses; of age 18-35yrs account for less than 1% . We Must change our mindset and embrace innovation.
In the recent addition in the report “WORLD EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL OUTLOOK 2017: the International Labour Organization(ILO) a United Nations Labour Agency indicates that more than 200 million people are out of work an increase of 3.4million from last year,this is clear unemployment is a global challenge and people around the world or the Kilifi youths must change their white color jobs mindset,acknowledge and embrace both entrepreneurship,growth of small and medium businesses. In another report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Kilifi was ranked among the expensive towns to live meaning we produce less than we consume another opportunity for youths to invest more in agribusiness since there is a ready market. It is sad and absolutely sad to discover the Brunch Manager of a bank within Kilifi is from upcountry and the person selling mitumba door to door,household to household is a is from upcountry-forgive me this cannot and will never be the route empowerment and self sustainability of locals.
Let change our mindsets,yes we need a revolution but a revolution of our Minds.
Devolution as a form governance had the following objectives;
1. to promote democratic and accountable exercise of power;
2. to foster national unity by recognizing diversity;
3. to give powers of self-governance to the people in the exercise of powers of the state and in making decisions affecting them;
4. to recognize the right of communities to manage their own affairs and to further their development;
5. to protect and promote interests and rights of minorities and marginalized communities;
6. to promote social and economic development and the provision of proximate,easily accessible services throughout Kenya;
7. to ensure equitable sharing of national and local resources throughout Kenya;
8. to facilitate the decentralization of state organs,their functions and services,from the capital of Kenya; and
9. to enhance checks and balances and separation of power.
All the above objectives much more numbers 3,4,5,6 are a recipe of many opportunities that the youths can grab and uplift their living standards. From directly employment by devolved government, offering services and supply of goods directly to government or starting small businesses and benefit from sales from the former and the later beneficiaries of the system,six years ago Kilifi town was a ghost town with small population currently the town is witnessing rising population offering market opportunities for different goods and services from land and housing,cloth line businesses,food stuffs,health sector,entertainment you can name them. Devolution was my point of reference to drive my point home; Are Kilifi youths ready for the many opportunities available? My answer will be capital NO. As a youth who has chaired several self help groups and investment groups I can confirm working with a Mijikenda youth on investment and private businesses is a tall order an assignment worth human blood we tend to complain more instead of taking responsibility. A quick check at Sub County Uwezo funds,youth and women funds offices reveals there has been low funds absorption by locals in terms of loans. With the established financial institutions within the county those taking loans from banks for the purpose of doing businesses; of age 18-35yrs account for less than 1% . We Must change our mindset and embrace innovation.
In the recent addition in the report “WORLD EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL OUTLOOK 2017: the International Labour Organization(ILO) a United Nations Labour Agency indicates that more than 200 million people are out of work an increase of 3.4million from last year,this is clear unemployment is a global challenge and people around the world or the Kilifi youths must change their white color jobs mindset,acknowledge and embrace both entrepreneurship,growth of small and medium businesses. In another report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Kilifi was ranked among the expensive towns to live meaning we produce less than we consume another opportunity for youths to invest more in agribusiness since there is a ready market. It is sad and absolutely sad to discover the Brunch Manager of a bank within Kilifi is from upcountry and the person selling mitumba door to door,household to household is a is from upcountry-forgive me this cannot and will never be the route empowerment and self sustainability of locals.
Let change our mindsets,yes we need a revolution but a revolution of our Minds.
Saturday, April 16, 2016
GANZE DESERVES BETTER
Ganze is among the seven sub-counties making the vast Kilifi County. It is a home of over one hundred and thirty seven thousand residents. Contrary to what many believe the region is blessed and resourceful; from the Manganese and Iron ores in Jaribuni,the fertile soil supporting growth of various indegenous crops,the plenty grazing land in parts of Bamba for livestock keeping,the sand for building and construction in Kafuloni to the already gone or destroyed good and attractive landscape of Mwangea hills thanks to charcoal burning courtesy of the economic strains faced by the Ganzerian,And that just a tip of the ice burg. It is unfortunate and parthetic for Ganze to continue remaing the poorest constituency in the Nation.
This is the time to hurt ourselves with the bitter truth and not comforting each other with lies.Comrades this is the time for us to put aside personal,regious,political differences and any other form of disastrous practise that may divide us in anyway. To understand our plight better our unity must be solidified than ever before. The older are used to,the old know,the younger are facing and inheriting the misery planted and watered by POOR LEADERSHIP in Ganze. From the reign of Noah Katana Ngala who also served as the minister for Land,Housing and Settlement yet majority are squaters in their own home update,the entry of Joseph Kahindi a promising leader and politician who too left Ganze where he found it. Then came in the powerful admnstrator who rose from a mere village chief to commanding the largest province in the Nation,were it not his miserable failure as Ganze MP Francis Baya would be at the heart and centre of Kilifi County politics the former commissioner and Ambasador had overwhelm support while at the public service. Baya's exist gifted Ganze with the current member of parliament Peter Safari Shehe a vissionary leader who has been accused of corruption,always in court battling cases right from the start when his victory for the Ganze parliamentary seat was challenged in a court of law. He is probably the member of parliament who has faced the most resistance and hostile political environment in the region if not the entire nation among the members of the August House.
As I write the Ganzerian is still languishing in poverty,unemployment is the daily bread,poor education standards and horific transition from primary to secondary school and secondary school to colleges or universities. The stagnant health sector,till today some Ganzerians still cannot afford clean water a basic commodity,And many more. The ball is still with us power owners to choose development and not mere words come 2017. Neither political party,location nor religion should determine our next leaders development track record should. We must be reminded the Ballot is stronger than a Bullet and BETTER GANZE IS SUPREME we must all work towards achieving this.
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