13th April - 19th April

DEPARTMENTS

State Department of Planning

***

State Department of Devolution

***

Directorate of Public Service Management

Published By the Ministry’s Communication Office ISSUE NO. 019

THE PRESIDENCY

MINISTRY OF DEVOLUTION & PLANNING

DEVOLUTIONDEVOLUTIONDEVOLUTION & PLANNINGPLANNINGPLANNING

News

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Kisumu to host second devolution confer-

ence…………………………………….………….1

Uwezo Fund’s turn to receive as Toyota Kenya

gives Ksh 5 million ..........................................2

Budget allocation for counties may go up...3

Huduma centres rake in billions………..….4

PS Mangiti hosts ICGLR Youth Forum dele-

gates…………………………………………...….5

ICGLR Youth Forum Executive Committee

meets CS..........................................................5

WKCDD&FMP impacts many communities in

Western Kenya………………………...……..…6

WEF managers acquire advanced report

writing skills……………………………………..6

Devolution policy to be ready by June this

year………………………………………...…..7

Baseline survey on service delivery

innovations kicks off...................................7

County model laws disseminated………....8

Draft Bill proposes amendments to

strengthen representation for disadvan-

taged groups……………………………...…..8

Preparation of a framework to implement

two-thirds gender rule…………………...….9

NYS now in Gikomba market.......................9

Youth Fund loans are Sharia compliant,

says Bruce Odhiambo…...……………..…..10

WEF gives back in CSR gesture.......................10

1700 youths in Kisumu stay on course with

KYEP internship program………...……..……..11

Focus on President’s Award-Kenya……….…11

NEWS PICTORIAL…………………………...….13

Kisumu to host second devolution conference

BY FLORENCE MUGENDI

AND GLADYS MUKABI

The Second Annual Devolution

Conference will be held at Tom

Mboya Labour College in Kisu-

mu County from 21st to 23rd

April 2015.

Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru

and Council of Governors Vice

Chair Salim Mvurya announced

that the conference will bring

together all stakeholders of De-

volution.

The conference is jointly orga-

nized by the Ministry of Devolu-

tion and Planning and the Coun-

cil of Governors.

Speaking at Harambee House on

Wednesday 15th April during a

joint media briefing, Ms Wai-

guru said: “This will be an op-

portune time to take stock of the

milestones that have been

achieved this far within the

framework of the principles and

practice of good and responsible

government.”

The overall objective of the Con-

ference is to create a platform of

engagement for devolution actors

to address challenges and issues

arising in the devolution process.

The conference marks the second

anniversary since the coming

into effect of a devolved govern-

ment in Kenya.The 1st Devolu-

tion Conference was held in

Kwale County in 2014 during

which it was resolved that the

Devolution Conference be held

annually on rotational basis.

The 2015 Devolution conference

is expected to be much bigger

than the Kwale forum, bringing

together some 4,000 partici-

pants including Governors,

Deputy Governors, Senators,

Women Representatives, MPs,

MCAs, development partners,

private sector and foreign and

local technocrats.

County dialogue forums have

been going on at county level

which will culminate in the

Kisumu conference. Outcomes

of both county dialogue forums

and the CECs conference will

inform its deliberations and

resolutions.

It is expected that the confer-

ence will recommend and re-

solve issues on establishment

of structures to facilitate closer

consultation and enhance a

harmonized approach amongst

National Government, County

Governments, Parliament and

other stakeholders.

Kwale County

Governor

Salim

Mvurya, CS

Anne Wai-

guru and De-

volution PS

Mwanamaka

Mabruki dur-

ing the press

briefing at

Harambee

House.

2

Uwezo Fund’s turn to receive as Toyota Kenya

gives Ksh 5 million for capacity building

BY BROWNE KUTSWA

AND MONICA OMORO

Since its inception two years

ago, Uwezo Fund has been

synonymous with disbursing

cheques to assist groups of

youth, women and persons

with disability engage in

business activities.

On Tuesday 14th April, that

role reversed, albeit

temporarily. The Fund received

a cheque of Ksh 5 million from

Toyota Kenya through its

chairman Amb. Dennis Awori

(second left) who presented it

to Cabinet Secretary Anne

Waiguru at her harambee house

office. Mr Awori was

accompanied by the Managing

Director of Toyota Kenya

Sachio Yotsukura.

During the ocassion, an MOU

was signed between the

Ministry of Devolution and

Planning, Uwezo Fund

Oversight Board & Toyota

Kenya Foundation in support

of Uwezo Fund Capacity

Building programmes that will

see, Toyota Kenya Foundation

provide Kshs 5 Million every

financial year for five years to

Uwezo Fund Capacity Building

Programme.

Ms Waiguru thanked Toyota

Kenya for collaborating with

the Ministry in undertaking

capacity building programmes

for Uwezo Fund loan

beneficiaries.

Ambassador Awori said that

the Capacity Building

programme will provide

training in Agri- Business and

Entrepreneurship to enable the

Uwezo Fund beneficiaries to

develop business skills in

agriculture.

It will focus on integration of

agriculture and business for

small scale farmers especially

women, youth and Persons

Living with Disability.

The training curriculum will

incude application of value

chain tools to agri-

preneurship, market and sale

of agricultural products,

records management, finance

and financial risks, enterprise

planning and application of

ICT tools in agri-preneurship.

The Programme will be more

practical than theoretical with

a demonstration farm in

Wangige. Expected outcomes

will be the upscaling and

capacity building of current

horticulture and livestock

enterprises, and creation of

awareness among horticulture

and livestock business

stakeholders about the modern

agribusiness start-ups. CS Anne Waiguru and Amb. Dennis Awori exchange copies of the MOU as Uwezo Fund CEO

Wifred Buyema (Right) and Toyota Kenya Managing Director Sachio Yotsukura look on.

3

BY JACQUELINE ADYANG

The Division of Revenue Bill

2015 proposes to increase allo-

cations to County Governments

from the current Ksh 226 bil-

lion to Kshs 283 billion to pro-

mote growth at the grassroots

level.

If passed by parliament, county

governments will receive more

money from the exchequer dur-

ing the 2015-2016 financial

year, according to Cabinet Sec-

retary Anne Waiguru.

Ms Waiguru told a meeting of

Members of County Executive

at Safari Park Hotel on Monday

13th April that the government

was reviewing policies on devo-

lution to iron out challenges

affecting the implementation of

the new administrative struc-

tures of governance.

The meeting comes ahead of the

Second Annual Devolution

Conference that is set to kick off

in Kisumu from 21st to 23rd

April.

Ms Waiguru said the 2014-2018

Strategic Plan for her Ministry

provides for training and build-

ing the capacity of public serv-

ants both at the national and

county levels on transformative

leadership competencies and civic

education at institutional levels to

improve delivery of services.

“The government was working

hard to train county government

officers on budgeting and finance,

Members of County Executive follow proceedings during their con-

ference at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi.

law and human resource

in order to improve ser-

vice delivery,” Ms Wai-

guru said.

Job groups in Counties

will also be harmonized,

she said, adding that the

Directorate of Public

Service Management is

working on improving

relations between the

National Government

representatives in Coun-

ties and County Govern-

ment officials.

The Meeting gave the

County Executives an

opportunity for self-

reflection and introspec-

tion and impetus for im-

provement and positive

change.

Other speakers included

Kenya Power and Light-

ing Company Limited

Managing Director Dr

Ben Chumo, and Vice

chairman Council of Gov-

ernors Salim Mvurya.

Budget allocation for counties may go up

BY KEVIN ALIDI

The National Youth Service

will commence recruitment of

new servicemen and women

from 24th to 30th April 2015 at

various designated centres

countrywide.

The ministry has already

placed advertisements in the

media announcing the

recruitment venues, dates and

eligibility criteria.

In the call-up notice, Cabinet

Secretary Anne Waiguru said

Orphans with sufficient

documentary proof such as

parents‟ death certificates or

burial permits will be given

special preference.

Those wishing to be enlisted

must meet the following

requirements:

1)Be a Kenyan citizen and a

resident of the respective

County of recruitment.

2)Must undergo a medical

check-up at a Government

Health Facility and present

proof of the same at the

recruitment centre.

3)Be prepared to give

voluntary service to

the nation in any part

of Kenya

4)Be prepared to undergo

rigorous training

4)Produce the original and

a set of photocopies

of national identity

card and academic

certificates.

5)Must have certificate of

good conduct

6) Must be 18-22 years old

Successful candidates will

report for the basic training at

the NYS College in Gilgil or

NYS recruitment set to commence

President Uhuru Kenyatta, CS Anne Waiguru and NYS

Director General Nelson Githinji in a group photo with

recruits during last year’s passing out parade in Gilgil.

Naivasha on the dates and

times that will be specified

in their call up notices.

4

BY JACQUELINE ADYANG

Revenue collection from Hudu-

ma centres is projected to hit the

Ksh 16 billion mark by the end of

the current financial year.

Ksh 5 billion was realized during

the first two quarters of the cur-

rent financial year with expecta-

tions high that the figure could

triple as more Kenyans opt for

effective and efficient services at

the one stop shop centres.

Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru

expressed her satisfaction that the

Huduma Kenya model has

worked well when she met offi-

cials from the private sector at

her Harambee house boardroom

on Wednesday 8th April, 2015.

She also announced government

plans to diversify the ongoing

youth empowerment programmes

through a venture that will focus

on improving a million lives by

connecting high-potential but

disadvantaged youth to sustaina-

ble digital employment opportu-

nities and skills training.

Ms Waiguru welcomed Mi-

crosoft Foundation‟s initiative in

collaboration with UNDP and

KEPSA to connect Kenyan

youth to jobs through Digital

Jobs initiative and assured of

government support, saying that

the government is focused on cre-

ating 50,000 jobs for youth in the

2015/2016 financial year through

this initiative.

She cited the launch of KEPSA

internship Programme last year as

one of the measures taken to

help solve some of the youth

challenges.

Microsoft Foundation Coun-

try Manager, Kunle Awosi-

ka, who was also present

said his organization is look-

ing forward to partnering

with the government of Ken-

ya to scale up youth initia-

tives.

Speaking during the occa-

sion, Huduma Kenya CEO

Dennis Mutuku confirmed

that the secretariat will also

launch an interactive web

portal where services can be

provided online and queries

answered expeditiously.

Earlier, Ms Waiguru held a

meeting with officials of

Barclays Bank where it was

agreed to deepen the partner-

ship in areas ranging from

youth internship to financial

training and support.

Huduma centres rake in billions

Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru during the meeting with private sector representatives at Haram-

bee House on Wednesday 8th April, 2015.

Huduma Centre C.E.O Dennis Mutuku confers with private sector officials at Harambee house board-

room.

5

PS Mangiti hosts ICGLR Youth Forum delegates

Eng. Peter Mangiti presents a gift to a delegate during a dinner he

hosted in honour of ICGLR Youth Forum Executive Committee at

the Sagana Getaway Resort, in Muranga County.

BY BRIAN KOCHWA

Planning Principal Secretary

Eng. Peter Mangiti has chal-

lenged the youth to develop

strategies that can help ad-

dress the many challenges that

affect their economic, social

and financial well-being.

Speaking at Sagana Getaway

Resort in Murang‟a County on

Monday 13th April when he

hosted the International Con-

ference on the Great Lakes

Region (ICGLR) Youth Fo-

rum executive committee

members to a reception, Eng.

Mangiti said that the youth

make the largest population in

the world and are faced with a

myriad of challenges that

require urgent attention.

He reiterated the need for

young people to be creative by

commercializing their skills

into gainful employment in-

stead of waiting for formal

employment.

The ICGLR youth forum execu-

tive committee members are

currently meeting to deliberate

on the establishment of the

ICGLR Regional Multi-

Functional Youth Forum Secre-

tariat whose Headquarters will

be in Nairobi. The Secretariat

will address various issues in-

cluding unemployment, peace

and security among others.

ICGLR comprises twelve mem-

ber states – Kenya, Zambia,

Congo, DRC,Tanzania, Sudan,

South Sudan, Burundi, Central

Africa Republic, Rwanda,

Uganda and Angola.

Also present was ICGLR Na-

tional coordinator Amb. Zacha-

ry Mwita, Youth Affairs Direc-

tor Stephen Jalenga, Executive

Director Levy Mwanawasa

centre Dr Frank Okuthe, and

ICGLR Youth Representative

Kennedy Walusala.

ICGLR Youth Forum Executive Committee meets CS

The International Conference on the

Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) delegates

paid a courtesy call on Cabinet Secretary

at her Harambee House office on

Monday 13th April. The delegation

(pictured) comprised Youth Forum

Executive Committee representing 12

countries, among them Tanzania,

Angola, Zambia, DRC and Uganda.

Kenya is the host country to the

International Conference on the Great

Lakes Region (ICGLR) Youth Forum

Secretariat.

Ms Waiguru urged them to share

practical lessons and best practices on

youth empowerment from their

respective countries and adopt tangible

solutions that can help transform the

lives of the youth.

Story by FIDELMA MUNYAO

6

BY TESS OCHINO

The Western Kenya Com-

munity Driven Develop-

ment & Flood Mitigation

Project (WKCDD&FMP),

has benefitted approxi-

mately 2.7 million people

through capacity building

trainings and livelihood

and infrastucture invest-

ments.

Among the beneficiaries

are 1.2 million males and

1.5 famales. According to

the Project report, this

achievement was 135% of

the target two million peo-

ple. The project operates in

five counties in Nyanza

and Western Kenya re-

gions namely Bungoma,

Busia, Kakamega, Siaya

and Vihiga Counties.

WKCDD&FMP was estab-

lished eight years ago un-

der the former Ministry of

Special Programs with

financial support from

World Bank

The Project Development

Objective (PDO) is to em-

power local communities to en-

gage in wealth creating activities,

lower the incidence of poverty

and reduce the vulnerability of

the poor to adverse effects associ-

ated with recurrent flooding.

The Project is implemented

through three main components,

namely Community Driven De-

velopment, Flood Mitigation and

Implementation Support.

Under the Community Driven De-

velopment, 631 target communities/

sub locations had been reached with

project interventions mainly being

training and prioritized investments.

The Support to Local Development

(SLD) Sub Component supports

implementation of sub-projects

which are aimed at im-

proving delivery of essen-

tial services to enable

communities diversify

their economic activities

and develop sustainable

management strategies.

A total of 187 SLD were

being implemented in the

Project by the end of De-

cember 2014. 95 projects

are for value addition and

the remaining 92 are infra-

structure in nature. 112

SLD projects had been

completed and 76 were on

-going and at different

levels of implementation

during the same period.

Under Flood Mitigation

component, key achieve-

ments under Catchment

Management Sub Compo-

nent included funding of

590 Natural Resource

Management (NRM)

groups with grants total-

ling to Ksh 295 million for

on-farm soil and water

conservation activities in

the 10 sub-counties.

WKCDD&FMP impacts many communities in

Western Kenya

Residents of Emia Sub Location in Mt. Elgon raise tree seedlings to help in the

rehabilitation and restoration of their catchment areas, courtesy of the Minis-

try of Devolution and Planning’s Western Kenya Community Driven Develop-

ment & Flood Mitigation Project.

BY MILLICENT SHITAKHA

Women Enterprise Fund managers

attended a senior management

training workshop on writing and

presentation skills that was facili-

tated by the Kenya Institute of

Management at the Silver Springs

Hotel in Nairobi from 30th March

to 1st April, 2015.

The objective of the training was to

enhance writing skills for all senior

managers who are involved in

writing board papers, minutes and

reports. The training will go a long

way to enhance the quality of the

Fund‟s reports and policy formula-

tion process and in turn enable it to

fulfill its mandate of economically

and socially empowering women

through provision of affordable

credit, market linkages and capacity

building.

Delivery of the mandate is achieved

through the professional skills of the

staff engaged by the Fund. The Fund

also invests in building staff capacity

in all aspects to ensure continuous

improvement in service delivery.

WEF managers acquire advanced report writing skills

WEF managers during the Senior Management Training

Workshop at Silver Springs Hotel in Nairobi.

7

Devolution policy to be ready by June this year

BY MOSES NYANDIKA

The State Department of

Devolution has developed an

ambitious rollout plan to

finalize the Devolution Poli-

cy by the end of June, this

year.

The Principal Secretary in

charge of the Department

Ms. Mwanamaka Mabruki

last week inaugurated the

Taskforce and the Inter-

ministerial Technical Com-

mittee to finalize the eagerly

awaited document.

The Taskforce is chaired by

Dr. Herbert Misigo and depu-

tized by Dr. Jane Wambui.

Other members include Dr.

Pattrick Kasyula, Dr. Linda

Musumba, Dr. David Maseka,

Dr. Kemoli Sagala, Dr. James

Gichuru Kariuki, Ms. Angela

Silima and Emily Mworia.

Addressing the team, Ms.

Mabruki said the policy will

address the challenges en-

countered in the devolution

implementation process.

The rollout plan includes

holding consultative meetings

with the private sector, Civil

Society Groups, Development

Partners and County Govern-

ments.

“Kenyans are eagerly waiting

for this policy,” said Ms

Mwanamaka and urged the

team to dedicate itself to this

course.

Members of the Taskforce and Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee

on Devolution Policy during the inauguration meeting at Teleposta Tow-

ers Boardroom last week.

Baseline survey on service delivery innovations

kicks off

BY MARIANNE KISANJI

A baseline survey on service

delivery innovations in the

public service is underway.

The month long countrywide

exercise to be conducted in

April is spearheaded by the

Research, Innovations and

Reforms Development

Division in conjunction with

the Divisions of Public Sector

Transformation (PSTD) and

the Performance Contracting

(PCD) in the Directorate of

Public Service Management.

The survey focuses on

Ministries, Departments and

Agencies that are on

performance contracting and

have reported having made

service delivery innovations.

“The main goal of the survey is

to establish the status of the

service delivery innovations in

the public service and identify

the kind of innovations that

have been made in the Public

Service since the indicator was

introduced in performance

contracting system six years

ago,” Mr Michael Mugo, the

Acting Principal Administrative

Secretary explained.

The survey will also enable the

Directorate to document the

innovations that have been made

in the public service with a view

to establishing a one stop data

shop on service delivery

innovations. The information

collected from the survey will

form the basis for recognition

and awards. All the service

delivery innovations will be

submitted for adjudication for

the country‟s annual awards on

excellence in public service

innovations and the winners of

these awards will participate in

regional and international

competitions for awards on

excellence in public service

innovations.

“The survey will also be the

basis upon which to identify

innovations that could be

replicated in the Public Service

in order to improve service

delivery, enhance efficiency

and effectiveness and promote

the prudent utilization of public

resources,” Mr Mugo said.

The Head of the Research,

Innovations and Reforms

Development Division, Dr.

Florence Muinde said that a

desktop survey to identify

institutions that have reported

on service delivery

innovations in their

Performance Contracts had

already been undertaken.

“The field visits are for

validating existence of the

innovations and establish the

impact that these innovations

have had on service delivery

in the Institutions and in the

public sector in general. It also

seeks to gauge how far the

innovations have permeated

the institution and affected or

positively changed their way

of doing business,” Dr Muinde

said.

The Institutions to be surveyed

include, Government

Ministries and Government

Departments, Parastatals,

Public Universities, and

Tertiary Institutions.

8

County model laws disseminated

BY JONATHAN MAINA

The Ministry of Devolution

and Planning in conjunction

with the Kenya Law Reform

Commission successfully

disseminated county model

laws in the 47 counties in

Kenya from 23rd to 27th

March 2015.

The laws were disseminated

in six clusters including

Nakuru, Kisumu, Isiolo,

Mombasa, Eldoret and

Nyeri, where representatives

from the different county

governments were present.

This activity was carried out

in line with the requirement

under the National Capacity

Building Framework to

build the capacity of county

governments.

The model laws establish a

useful framework that

guides county governments

in the process of developing

county legislation. They

take on a generic form that

allows counties to adapt

them to their unique charac-

teristics.

The generic form enables

counties to achieve harmo-

nization, modernization and

standardization of their leg-

islation. The laws mirror the

functions of county govern-

ments as spelt out in the

fourth schedule of the Con-

stitution.

Senior assistant director for devolution affairs Maurice Ogola (Left)

presents a copy of the county model laws to a county official .

Draft Bill proposes amendments to strengthen

representation for disadvantaged groups

BY WILLIAM KOMU

The Directorate of Gender in

consultation with key stake-

holders has developed a draft

statute law (miscellaneous

amendments) bill, 2015 on

representation of special in-

terest groups in Parliament.

Once passed, it will give full

effect to the realization of

Article 100 of the Constitu-

tion that seeks to promote the

representation, inclusion and

active participation of wom-

en, youth, persons with disa-

bilities, ethnic minorities and

marginalized communities in

Parliament.

An analysis of representation

of Kenyans based on the

groups specified under Arti-

cle 100 indicates that these

groups are under-represented

both in Parliament and county

assemblies. The Bill is expected

to be enacted by August 26,

2015, the deadline for all Consti-

tutional Legislations.

The Bill proposes amendment of

The Political Parties Act No. 11

of 2011, The Elections Act No.

24 of 2011, The Independent

Electoral and Boundaries Com-

mission Act, 2011 and The

County Governments Act, 2012.

This is in recognition that,

though these Acts have provi-

sions promoting equality of

representation, their implemen-

tation does not guarantee repre-

sentation of Marginalized

Groups in Parliament.

The amendment proposed in the

Political Parties Act, the Inde-

pendent Electoral and Bounda-

ries Commission Act and the

County Governments Act in-

clude inclusion of a member

from Special Interest Groups in

the composition of the Political

Parties governing body, amend-

ments to require voter education

to include persons with disabil-

ity and utilize such communica-

tion modes as may be accessi-

ble to persons with disability

including persons with hearing

or visual impairment and inclu-

sion into the membership of the

county assembly not less than

five percent of elected members

who are men and are persons

with disability and not less than

five of women members nomi-

nated under Article 177 (b) are

persons with disability respec-

tively.

The preparation process was

spearheaded by Eng. Peter

Mangiti, Principal Secretary,

State Department of Planning.

A number of stakeholders‟

consultative meetings were

convened by the Directorate of

Gender towards this course.

A validation stakeholders‟

workshop was held at Intercon-

tinental Hotel on 27th March,

2015 which brought together

the Ministry of Labour, Social

Security and Services, Office

of the Attorney General and

Department of Justice, Nation-

al Gender and Equality Com-

mission, Independent Electoral

and Boundaries Commission,

National Council for Persons

With Disabilities, Kenya Na-

tional Commission on Human

Rights, National Youth Coun-

cil, Office of the Registrar of

Political Parties, Albinism

Society, Youth Agenda, United

Disabled Persons of Kenya,

and FIDA among others.

9

Preparation of a framework to implement two-

thirds gender rule gathers momentum

Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Equality follow a

presentation by CS Anne Waiguru (not in picture) when she appeared before

them on 1st April 2015 at Parliament Buildings.

BY WILLIAM KOMU

The preparation of a

framework to implement

the “not more than two-

thirds gender rule” in the

Constitution is at an ad-

vanced stage.

A refined draft on the

proposals has already

been prepared and pre-

sented to the National

Assembly Committee on

Justice and Legal Affairs.

The Technical Working

Group constituted by the

Attorney General on 3rd

February 2014, held vari-

ous consultative meetings

and workshops with key

stakeholders to develop a

plausible framework to

implement the Supreme

Court Ruling on the Two-

thirds Gender Principle.

The process began in

February 2014 when the

Technical Working Group

developed its Terms of

Reference and a detailed

Work Plan. In March and

April 2014, a resource

mobilization and public

participation strategy were

developed, followed in

May 2014 by presenta-

tions from Constitution-

al experts including

Prof. Jill Ghai, Mr

Charles Kanjama, Mr

Jotham Arwa and

Atsango Chesoni.

The Technical Working

Group met the Attorney

General in July 2014 to

update him on the pro-

gress made and agreed

on a plan for a high

level intense workshop

to engage experts and

the political class espe-

cially key Committees

in the Senate and Na-

tional Assembly. They

also held a meeting with

the political parties and

the private sector.

In a bid to get public

participation, the Tech-

nical Working Group in

September, 2014 issued

a call for proposals in

the daily newspapers,

social media and in

forums with stakehold-

ers. Workshops with

Civil Society Organi-

zations Chief Execu-

tives, members of the

Kenya Parliament Hu-

man Rights Caucus

and Women County

Representatives were

also held. In October

and November 2014,

the Technical Working

Group held meetings

with International ex-

perts on election and

KEWOPA members.

A zero draft on the pro-

posals to attain the two-

thirds gender rule in

Parliament was pro-

duced and presented to

the National Assembly

Committee on Justice

and Legal Affairs in

November and Decem-

ber 2014.

The refined draft was

presented to the same

Committee in April

2015 at Serena Beach

Hotel, in Mombasa at a

meeting that was also

attended by the Gender

Director Mrs Katherine

Muoki, IEBC Chair and

Commissioners, Regis-

trar of Political Parties,

Commission on Admin-

istration of Justice, Na-

tional Gender and

Equality Commission,

Kenya Law Reform

Commission, Federation

of Women Lawyers and

Commission on Imple-

mentation of the Consti-

tution among others.

NYS now in Gikomba market

BY ESTHER JUMA

National Youth Service (NYS)

will soon add Gikomba market to

its list of success stories for this

year.

NYS servicemen and women

moved into the famous Gikomba

market at the beginning of this

month for an intensive clean up

and youth empowerment

programme. The servicemen are

working with over 400

community youth at Gikomba

market who, before NYS arrival,

survived on erratic menial work

in the market.

The youth have now been

engaged in an empowerment

program that will enable them to

earn an income and participate in

various re-socialization activities

similar to what was successfully

pioneered in Kibera.

Gikomba market is one of the

largest in Nairobi and famous for

its second hand clothes that are

popular among middle income to

low income earners. It is also

known for all the wrong reasons

including mountains of garbage

and filth that has not been cleared

for days.

NYS has gained reputation for

mobilization of youth and bringing

them together for community

service. The Gikomba traders and

customers are excited to

experience the after effect of

having an NYS intervention.

NYS servicemen and women team up with local

youth to clean up Gikomba market in Nairobi.

10

Youth Fund loans are Sharia compliant, says

Bruce Odhiambo

BY FELISTA MORAA

Youth Enterprise Develop-

ment Fund Board Chairman

Mr Bruce Odhiambo has

urged Muslim youth to

come forward and access

loans from the Youth Fund

to do business.

He said the Fund has made

its loan products sharia

complaint thus making

them acceptable to youth in

the Muslim community.

The move is in line with

the Fund‟s mandate of

economically empowering

the youth of Kenya.

“We have made our loans

sharia complaint through a

consultative process with

the Muslim Community so

as to ensure that all Ken-

yan youth benefit irrespec-

tive of their religious back-

ground. We are now ex-

pecting Muslim youth to

come out in large numbers

for the loans in order to

gain financial independ-

ence as well as participate

in the economic develop-

ment of the country,” said

Mr Odhiambo.

Muslim youth also stand to

benefit from various prod-

ucts offered by the Fund

including the recently

launched Bid Bond and

LPO financing loan. The

loan will enable them to

take full advantage of the affirm-

ative action on access to 30% of

government procurement oppor-

tunities set aside for youth, wom-

en and persons with disability.

“You will be able to access up to

Kshs 20 Million in LPO financ-

ing and do business with govern-

ment,” Mr Odhiambo said.

He was speaking to young Mus-

lims who had attended the Fund‟s

mentorship program dubbed „I

have got 10 min…do you?’ held

in April 2015 at the Muslim

Academy in Nairobi. The event

was held in partnership with

Sunni Punjabi Organization

(SPO) which is a body that repre-

sents the Sunni Muslim Punjabi

Community of Kenya.

The Chairman of SPO, Mr. Khalid

Darr, welcomed the initiative saying

that it will go a long way to empow-

er Muslim youth including those of

Asian origin. He dispelled the no-

tion that all Asians in Kenya are

rich saying that they were also

struggling and looking for opportu-

nities to grow.

Mr Darr expressed optimism that

the Youth Fund will help them to

access opportunities for economic

growth.

Mr Bruce Odhiambo addressing young Muslims who attended the Youth

Fund’s mentorship program at the Muslim Academy in Nairobi.

Members of the Asian community keenly follow proceedings

during the Youth Fund’s mentorship program at the Muslim

Academy in Nairobi.

WEF gives back in CSR gesture BY RUTH RANDA

Women Enterprise

Fund (WEF) has

donated desks, chairs

and tables to Nyatege

Primary School in

Kisumu East

Subcounty as part of

their Corporate

Social Responsibility

(CSR).

A member of the

Board‟s Advisory Mr

John Owuor presented

the items to the school

management to

alleviate the suffering

the students were

going through in their

pursuit for education.

The school is located

in the low income

settlements of

Nyatege on the

outskirts of Kisumu. It

has a student

population of 290 and

9 teachers.

The school was in

dire need of basic

educational facilities

with inadequate and

broken furniture,

causing the pupils to

learn while sitting on

dusty floors.

On receiving the

items, the children

together with their

teachers and parents

thanked the Fund for

the kind gesture

saying that it will go

a long way in

ensuring that they

achieve their goals.

Elated teachers

noted that they could

now discharge their

duties from a decent

work station with

good tables and

chairs.

The new furniture that WEF donated

to Nyatege Primary School in Kisumu

11

Focus on President’s Award-Kenya

BY GLADYS MUKABI

The President‟s Award-Kenya

(PA-K) is a self-development

and character building pro-

gramme available to all young

people countrywide, equipping

them with positive life skills to

make a difference for them-

selves, their communities,

country and the world.

It is one of the leading reputable

youth development programmes

and is well recognized as an

informal training tool for young

people.

The President‟s Award-Kenya

provides holistic development

by addressing the following

thematic areas: Improved edu-

cational attainment, employa-

bility, sustainable livelihoods,

health and well-being; In-

creased participation in civic life;

Social Inclusion; Environment;

Gender equality and women em-

powerment; Reduction and pre-

vention of violence, conflict reso-

lution and peace building; and

Reduced re-offending

(recidivism) rates.

The Award is open to all young

people between the ages of 14

and 24, irrespective of gender,

creed, race, social or physical

status. It has trained adult volun-

teer helpers who inspire and sup-

port the young people in their

pursuance of the programme

activities.

The Programme gives young

people the opportunity to discov-

er and nurture potential leader-

ship skills, civic responsibility as

well as motivation to serve the

community.

The President‟s Award-Kenya

was launched in 1966 by the

Founding Father of the Nation,

Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. The current

Patron is His Excellency

Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta. The

Award is a member of the

Duke of Edinburgh‟s Inter-

national Award Association.

Ms Nellie Munala, Executive Director, President’s Award-

Kenya.

1700 youths in Kisumu stay on course with KYEP

internship program BY NYAKWAMA KAJWANG

Some 1700 youth in Kisumu

County have just completed the

training part of Cycle 6 of the

Training and Internship Pro-

gramme under the GoK/World

Bank funded Kenya Youth Em-

powerment Project that is in its

final stage. The program started

with 2500 youths but some

dropped out along the way.

The program targeted youth who

are either graduates of Primary

school education (KCPE), second-

ary level (KCSE), tertiary colleges

or universities, aged 15 to 29

years, who have been out of

school for at least one year and

who are not employed or attend-

ing school.

Selected youth were first taken

through life skills training where

they were equipped with basic

knowledge and skills in carrying

on with life, including how to man-

age challenges of Drugs, HIV/AIDS,

reproductive health and attitude

change.

They also underwent a core-business

skills training followed by one on

entrepreneurship. The remaining

1700 are now awaiting work place-

ments during which they will earn a

stipend of Ksh 6,000 per month to

facilitate their transport

and lunch and to ensure

they are decently dressed

throughout the 4 months

of work experience.

The Training and Intern-

ship Program is imple-

mented by the Kenya

Private Sector Alliance

and coordinated by the

Directorate of Youth

Affairs. It is currently

ongoing in Nairobi,

Mombasa and Kisumu

with the objective of

changing the attitudes of

young people towards

“positivity in employ-

ment and employability”

by imparting in them

best practices in how to

seek and maintain jobs,

self reliance and enter-

prise development.

Kisumu County Director of Youth Development Mr T.N. Kajwang

addresses interns during a Monitoring and Evaluation visit of the life

skill training at Kisumu Polytechnic.

12

UPCOMING

EVENT

2nd Annual De-

volution confer-

ence, Kisumu

21st –23rd April

2015

NYS recruitment

24th—30th April

2015

**********************************************

Hearty clap for a job well done

Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru (Pictured in red) held another of the regular Heads of

Department meeting with her senior staff and chief executives of semi autonomous

agencies in the Ministry of Devolution and Planning on Tuesday 14th April 2015 with a

message to them to create and deepen synergies by taking advantage of their cross

cutting roles. She commended the various directorates for excelling in their respective

assignments and singled out Huduma Kenya, NYS, Uwezo Fund, NEPAD-Agency, NGO

Coordination Board, Gender Directorate, Kenya School of Government and the

Directorate of Public Service Management for a job well done.

On Ms Waiguru’s left is PS Peter Mangiti, Devolution Secretary Philiph Owade and

Macro Director Ms. Sabina Maganga.

13

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Nepad -Kenya CEO Lillian Mbogo-Omollo (Right) makes her contribution during the

Heads of department meeting that was chaired by CS Anne Waiguru at Harambee House

on Tuesday 14th April.

NEWS PICTORIAL

Heads of department meeting in session at Harambee House on 14th April.

**********************************************

14

NEWS PICTORIAL

Officials of Union of Kenya Civil Servants during a meeting with CS Waiguru at

Harambee House on Wednesday 15th April.

**********************************************

Barclays Bank Managing Director Jeremy Awori (2nd right) and representatives of the

Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP), and Microsoft discuss employer's challenge for youth employability support

when they met CS Waiguru at Harambee House on 8th April.

**********************************************

15

Vision To be a centre of excellence in

devolution and planning for a globally

competitive and prosperous nation

with a high quality of life for all

Kenyans

Mission To provide effective leadership and

coordination in devolution and

planning, policy formulation and

tracking results for a globally

competitive and prosperous nation.

Core Values Professional Integrity

Commitment to Results.

Participatory Approach .

Customer Orientation.

Commitment to teamwork.

Commitment to the welfare of

employees.

www.devolutionandplanning.go.ke

@devolution254

devolutionplanning

For news items, information and comments,

please email the Communications Director

bkutswa@gmail.com

Photography by

Eric Bosire

Design and Layout by

Jacqueline Adyang

CS Waiguru flanked by her cabinet colleagues addresses a media briefing on the

steps of Harambee House on 8th April, to update the nation following the terrorist

attack on Garissa University College

**********************************************

PICTORIAL

An elated Dr. Ludeki Chweya, Director General Kenya School of Government ,

welcomes a survivor of the Garissa University attack, who arrived at the School on

5th April.

********************************************