Taita-Taveta County

ODM YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAMME

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2012

TAITA-TAVETA COUNTY YOUTH FORUM

County Info Taita Taveta County is one of the forty seven counties of Kenya. It lies approximately 200 km northwest of Mombasa and 360 km southeast of Nairobi city. The county lies between 2 46 south and 4 10 south and longitudes 37 36 east and 3014 east. It borders Tana River, Kitui and Makueni Counties to the north, Kwale and Kilifi Counties to the east, Kajiado County to the northwest and the Republic of Tanzania to the south and southwest. The county covers an area of 17,128.3km2. Taita Taveta is classified as a semi arid county. Out of the total area of 17,128.3 Km2 covered by the county, 10,680.7 km2 or 62% is occupied by Tsavo East and West National parks, 4,100.7 km2 or 24% is range land suitable for ranching and dry land farming, while only 2,055.4 km2 or 12 per cent is available for rain-fed agriculture. Of the 2,055.4 km2 arable land, 1,774.5 km2 or 74% is low potential agriculture land, receiving an annual mean rainfall of 440mm, while in the highland areas receive an annual mean rainfall of 1900 mm. The county consists of four consistuencies namely Taveta, Wundanyi, Voi and Mwatate. The county headquarters are located in Mwatate town.

Map of Taita Taveta County

TAITA-TAVETA COUNTY ODM YOUTH 2012 INTRODUCTION A country is at its best when the bonds between people are strong and when the sense of national purpose is clear. Today the challenges facing Kenya are immense. Our economy is overwhelmed by debt, our social fabric is frayed as a result of the 2007/2008 post election crisis and our political system has betrayed the people. But these problems can be overcome if we pull together and work together. If we remember that we are all in this together. Our competitors say: give us your vote and we will sort out all your problems. We say: real change comes not from government alone. Real change comes when the youths are inspired and mobilized, when millions of us are fired up to play a part in the nations future. We appreciate that this is ambitious. Yes it is optimistic. But in the end all the directive principles, all the new measures, all the new policy initiatives, are just politicians words without you and your involvement. We must not only control the weapons that can kill us, we must bridge the great disparities of wealth and opportunity among the peoples of Kenya, the vast majority of whom live in poverty without hope, opportunity or choices in life. These conditions are a breeding ground for division that can cause a desperate people to resort to violence as a last resort. Our only hope lies in the power of our love, generosity, tolerance and understanding and our commitment to making the Kenya a better place for all. How will we deal with the crisis of unemployment unless we understand that we are all in this together? How will we create inter-ethnic cohesion? How will we revitalize communities unless people stop asking who will fix this? and start asking what can I do? Only together can we get Kenya moving to prosperity and taking its rightful position on the world map.

OUR CORE VALUES OF TAITA-TAVETA ODM YOUTH TAITA-TAVETA ODM YOUTH FORUM believes that Kenya is a home to those who believe in the sanctity of human life and development. We shall therefore bear allegiance to the following; 1. THAT the rights and needs of the individual are paramount as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration of

Human Rights and the Constitution of the Republic of Kenya and that Individuals and societies make a state - states do not make individuals, therefore we believe in freedom of association and expression, freedom from oppression, from fear and from arbitrary arrest. 2. THAT justice is either for all or it is for none. Every Kenyan is entitled to the protection of the law. The sovereignty of people and state should be anchored in the Rule of Law and the independence of the Judiciary. 3. THAT a free enterprise economy is the surest guarantee of economic growth and prosperity. Government must create the environment for business to thrive and for effort and initiative to be rewarded. What a person makes legitimately must never be taken away arbitrarily. 4. THAT the individual must be enabled to develop in freedom to attain the highest level which his or her talents permit. 5. THAT the provision of quality education, further training and an expanding economy that creates jobs, as well as the provision of good health facilities and medical care for all Kenyans form the basis for the development of the individual and the nation DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF TAITA-TAVETA COUNTY ODM YOUTH 2012 We shall strongly defend the following; i. Democracy and good governance;

ii. Freedom, human rights and human dignity;

iii. Justice, equity, popular participation, inclusiveness and the rule of law;

iv. Integrity, transparency and accountability in the conduct of public affairs;

v. Sustainable development through the creation of an enabling environment for private sector led economic development. vi. Zero tolerance on corruption

OUR VISION Our vision is meditated by the following: 1. A stable, peaceful, united and democratic nation dedicated to the promotion of the welfare, freedom and prosperity of its citizens; 2. A country whose governance is imbued with the principles of liberal democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and social justice; 3. A nation whose economy is propelled by competitive market principles, committed to full employment and the eradication of poverty, hunger, disease and ignorance and where the private and public sectors exist in a mutually supportive partnership; 4. A modern, industrialized and advanced society; 5. A property-owning, prosperous, contented and educated people living in security and happiness; 6. A nation right in the mainstream of world development and proud of its achievements in science and technology, in arts and sports; 7. Cities bustling with activities in trade and commerce - the landscape dominated by high rise buildings, happy homes, strong family ties; 8. Clean and well-planned rural communities with modern sanitation and gadgetry with rich agriculture and prosperous farmers; 9. A people at peace with each other living in security and united in love and dedication to nation.

OUR MISSION Our mission as a Forum is to help ODM mobilize the masses on clear pre-election covenants and attain power to govern the nation and make a commitment to realize our vision. We strive to ensure this power is used within the framework of the following principles: i). That the key to creating prosperity for all is to unleash the energies of the private sector through the development of an entrepreneurial free enterprise economy; ii). That the true business of government is the promotion of good governance namely; to create the institutional structures that facilitate individual freedoms, liberty, justice and social equity, and ensure public order and the security of our nation; and iii). That the economic role of the government is to provide the social and economic infrastructure and the legal framework for an enterprise economy that will promote vigorous and sustainable economic growth, equitable income distribution, rising incomes, stable prices, full employment and maximum economic security and social welfare.

THE WAY FORWARD

We encourage The Following: Implement special sector programmes embracing industrial, trade and other measures backed by adequate resources this will include the strengthening of the mining industry in Taveta and other vulnerable sectors. Ensure that a comprehensive package of measures is introduced to promote beneficiation programmes, to ensure that the natural wealth of the country is shared, and developed locally, and accelerates the creation of decent work opportunities in manufacturing and services. Engage the private financial sector in order to facilitate its transformation and diversification including the development of the co-operative financial institutions as well as ensuring that the sector contributes to investment and developmental priorities of the country. Develop programmes to promote the important role of jua kali and agriculture in employment, meeting basic needs and community development, and commit to continued transformation of these sectors to achieve national goals. Tourism and other services will be supported to expand work for our people. Develop and invest in a programme to create large numbers of 'green jobs', namely employment in industries and facilities that are designed to mitigate the effects of climate change. Ensure that the mandates of development finance institutions are clear and truly developmental and that their programmes contribute to decent work outcomes, achievement of our developmental needs and sustainable livelihoods. Lead a massive public investment programme for growth and employment creation. In the period ahead, the ODM government if voted to power will accelerate and expand its investment in public infrastructure. This will include expanding and improving the rail networks, public transport, and port operations, dams, housing construction, information and communications technology and energy generation capacity as well as education and health infrastructure, and in the process create additional decent work opportunities whilst meeting the basic needs of the society. Step up a massive programme on expanded public works linked to infrastructure and meeting social needs with home-based care, crches, school cleaning and renovation, community gardens, removal of alien vegetation, tree planting and school feeding. In order to avoid exploitation of workers and ensure decent work for all workers as well as to protect the employment relationship, introduce laws to regulate contract work, subcontracting and out- sourcing, address the problem of labour broking and prohibit certain abusive practices. Provisions will be introduced to facilitate unionization of workers and conclusion of sectoral collective agreements to cover vulnerable workers in these different legal relationships and ensure the right to permanent employment for affected workers. Procurement policies and public incentives will include requirements to promote decent work. Create an environment for more labour-intensive production methods, procurement policies that support local jobs and building public-private partnerships.

Vigorously implement broad-based economic empowerment and affirmative action policies as contemplated in the constitution and adjust them to ensure that they benefit more broad sections of our people, especially the workers, youth, women and people with disabilities. Policies will, in addition, actively promote skills development and equity at the workplace.

Launch a much larger national youth service programme and a new national youth development agency, focusing on access to funding and employment creation, which will be linked to skills development opportunities and build decent work opportunities for young people.

The TAITA-TAVETA ODM YOUTH proposes the following practical steps to popularize the Party: We undertake a Youth Caravan Tour in all The Four Constituencies. We Start Membership Recruitment Programme Forthwith. The Minister of Immigration To start Issuing IDs Right away. The Party Leader undertakes Meet the Youth-Tour before October

Set up ODM Youth Secretariat in the County.

GOD BLESS ODM , GOD BLESS KENYA