Generating Youth Understanding on the Proposed Constitution of Kenya

Sponsored by PACT-Kenya

About the Report..........................................................................................................................................................................................1Map of Kenya highlighting Key areas of AYT forums...................................................................................................................................2AYT Civic Education Secretariat Team..........................................................................................................................................................3

Nairobi Province............................................................................................................................................................................................4Langa’ta Constituency....................................................................................................................................................................................4

Rift Valley Province...............................................................................................................................................................5Kipkelion Constituency.................................................................................................................................................................................5Nakuru Constituency.....................................................................................................................................................................................6Ainamoi Constituency....................................................................................................................................................................................7Kuresoi Constituency.....................................................................................................................................................................................8

Nyanza Province.....................................................................................................................................................................9Bondo Constituency........................................................................................................................................................................................9Kisumu Town East Constituency....................................................................................................................................................................10Alego Constituency.........................................................................................................................................................................................11Gem Constituency..........................................................................................................................................................................................12

Western Province..................................................................................................................................................................13Sabatia Constituency.....................................................................................................................................................................................13Butere Constituency......................................................................................................................................................................................14Vihiga Constituency......................................................................................................................................................................................15Budalangi Constituency................................................................................................................................................................................16

Eastern Province.......................................................................................................................................................................17Igembe North Constituency...........................................................................................................................................................................17Kathiani Constituency...................................................................................................................................................................................18Makueni Constituency...................................................................................................................................................................................19Mwingi South Constituency...........................................................................................................................................................................20Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21

Content

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About the reportAfrica Youth Trust (AYT) undertook civic education on the Proposed Constitution of Kenya in five provinces of Kenya namely Nairobi, Nyanza, Western, Eastern and Rift Valley in the period preceding the August 4th National referendum. AYT was financially supported as a member of the Parliamentary Initiatives Network (PIN) under the Kenya Civil Society Strengthening Parliamentary Program of the State University of New York (SUNY-Kenya) by PACT Kenya to carry out civic education on the Proposed Constitution of Kenya.

The main goal of the project was to create a culture of good governance cultivated through comprehensive Youth Civic Participation. Entitled

“Generating Youth Understanding on the Proposed Constitution of Kenya”, the objective of the project was to improve the level of understanding on the vision, framework and implications of the Proposed Constitution of Kenya in the five provinces. While applying youth friendly approaches in educating on the content of the Proposed Constitution of Kenya, AYT carried out the following activities:

1. Training of Trainers workshop on the history vision, framework, content and process towards the making of the Proposed Constitution of Kenya.

2. Civic Education Forums to inform the youth on the content of the Proposed Constitution with particular focus on the contentious issues.

AYT also highlighted the role of the youth in constitution-making, promoting peace and national cohesion during pre and post referendum and enhanced the capacity of young people to engage in advocacy for institutional and policy reform.

Between 13th and 23rd July 2010, we held civic education forums in 18 constituencies targeting youth in urban and rural areas. Over 1,800 people benefitted from the civic education process. Local leaders, provincial administration, Members of Parliament and religious leaders were in attendance to promote dialogue on the contentious issues and demystify the concerns that members of the community had. The forums ensured participation of women, who were very vocal on issues pertinent to gender, as well as older members of the community and this encouraged inter-generational and cross-cultural learning of beliefs and opinions that the community held.

The civic education forums were held in Lang’ata constituency in Nairobi; Alego, Gem, Kisumu Town East and Bondo constituencies in Nyanza; Vihiga, Budalangi, Sabatia and Butere constituencies in Western Province; Mwingi South, Igembe North, Kathiani and Makueni constituencies in Eastern Province and Kipkelion, Ainamoi, Nakuru and Kuresoi constituencies in Rift Valley.

This pictorial report highlights the journey of the AYT civic education forums on the Proposed Constitution of Kenya 2010. The pictures are arranged in provinces according to the constituency civic education forum . AYT is pleased to have played a part in educating the public on the new constitution for Kenya. AYT in spearheading its youth-led development model will continue to engage all the stakeholders, especially the youth in the implementation of the Constitution of Kenya.

Areas of AYT Civic Education Forums

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Map of Kenya highlighting Key areas of AYT forums

Key

Stella Agara

Nahum Okwiya

Michelle Fondo

Eva Turere

Alfred Itunga

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AYT Civic Education Team

top left: Participants at the Langa’ta Civic Education forum on the Prposed Constitution of Kenya as follow proceedings.

top right: Miss Stella Agara makes a contributiion during the Civic education forum held in Langa’ta

bottom: Mr. Paul Otiende an AYT constitution civic educator conducts civic education on teh proposed constitution during the forum.

Nairobi ProvinceLanga’ta Constituency

Kipkelion ConstituencyRift Valley Province

top left: The Member of Parliament for Kipkelion Hon. Langat Magerer addresses the participants in the Kipkelion Civic Education forum held at the Kipkelion Social Hall while Mr.. Zablon Cheruiyot the Chairman Kipkelion County Council and Nahum Okwiya (back right) look on.

top right: Participants at the Kipkelion Civic Education forum refer to the Prposed C onstitution of Kenya as they follow proceedings.

bottom: (left to Right) Paul Muthui, Felix Cheruiyot, Hon. Langat Magerer, Mr. Zablon Cheruiyot and Nahum Okwiya pose for a photo after the Kipkelion forum .

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Nakuru Constituency

right: Members of Nakuru Alcapella music group entertain participants at the constitution civic education forum at the Social hall in Nakuru.

from left: The Executive Director of AYT Mr.. Nahum Okwiya, District Youth officer Wilfred Migwi and Nakuru COE Coordinator Mr. Mbogo during the civic education forum in Nakuru own Hall.

above: Participants peruse through the Proposed Constitution of Kenya during the AYT Civic Education Forum in Nakuru.

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right: Mr. Dalmus Moroto a Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review civic educator addresses participants during the civic education forum on the proposed constitution at Brook market.

left: Participants refer to copies of the Proposed Constitution of Kenya during the AYT Civic Education forum on the proposed constitution at Brook market in Kericho.

Ainamoi Constituency

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Kuresoi Constituency

bottom left: Participants at the Kuresoi civic education forum following the proceedings.

top: Ms. Stella Agara conducting the Civic Education Session at Keringet, St.. Veronica Catholic Church in Kuresoi.

bottom right: The District Officer1(DO 1) Mr. Pius Mwembe and Mr. Felix Cheruiyot the Rift Valley Region Coordinator listening to a speech by the area chief.

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Bondo Constituency

Nyanza Province

Keen on Detail: A Participant follows through the civic education forum in Bondo.

A participant asks a question during an AYT civic education forum on the proposed constitution at the Bondo community hall in Bondo.

Mr.. Danson Mwangi, the District Officer 2 in Bondo addresses the participant at the civic education forum in Bondo.

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Kisumu Town EastConstituency

Youth Participants follow proceedings at the AYT Civic Education Forum in Kisumu.

A youth representative raises a concern on the Proposed Constitution of Kenya during the Civic Education Forum in Kisumu.

AYT officials during plenary session at a civic education forum in Kisumu County Hall in Kisumu.

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Alego Constituency

Mr.. Nahum Okwiya addressing participants of the proposed constitution of the civic education forum in County Council hall in Alego constituency

Participants at the Alego forum listen through the forum in Alego.

Mr. Felix Cheruiyot the AYT Rift Valley coordinator and James Achich AYT’s Alego constituency civic educator during the Alego forum.

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Ms. Stella Agara from AYT addressng the partic-pants at the Makueni forum.Gem Constituency

Ms. Stella Agara from AYT addressing the participants at the Gem forum.

Mr. Ronnie Osumba (in a cap) AYT’s civic educator from Gem constituency thanking the participants for attending the constitution civic education forum at the Suaro Hotel in Gem.

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Sabatia Constituency

Michelle Fondo from AYT makes the opening remark during the civic education forum on the proposed constitution at Icigero Primary school in Sabatia.

Mr. Nahum Okwiya (in a cap) from AYT introduces Beatrice Owenga an AYT civic educator during the sabatia forum.

Western Province

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Butere Constituency

Members of Pregnant brothers theatre group performing a skit on abortion during the Butere forum

Michelle Fondo from AYT makes responds to questions during the civic education forum on the proposed constitution at Butere Girls Secondary school

Mr.. Peter Nawate (right) an AYT’s Butere constituency civic educator holds the proposed constitution as a participant asks a

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Vihiga Constituency

Participants pay attention to details, during the civic education forum on the proposed constitution in Vihiga

Mr. Alfred Itunga from AYT makes a presentation on the proposed constitution of Kenya during a civic education forum on the document at Mutembe Friend’s church in Vihiga.

Participants refer to the Proposed constitution of Kenya during the Vihiga civic education forum.

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Budalangi Constituency

Mr.. Nahum Okwiya the Executive Director of AYT confers with Hon. Ababu Namwamba the Member of Parliament of Budalangi during the Civic Education forum held at the St.. Cecilia Namenya Girls High School in Budalangi constituency.

Members of the Mwangaza Youth group perform a play on the constitution at the Budalangi forum.

Participants refer to the proposed constitution during the Budalangi forum.

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Eastern Province

Igembe North Constituency

Women representatives read through the Proposed Constitution of Kenya during a civic education forum in Igembe North

Mr.. Mutwiri Abuana AYT’s Igembe North civic educator gives participants copies of the civic education material during the civic education forum on the proposed constitution in Mutuati, Igembe north constituency.

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Kathiani Constituency

Mr.. G. Musalia the District Officer 1 addresses the youth during a civic education forum on the proposed constitution at Kathiani Youth development centre. .

Mr. Paul Muthui (center) the AYT Eastern Province civic educator coordinator elaborates a point during the Kathiani forum. On his left, Mr. Anthony Mutinda the AYT civic educator in Kathiani.

Participants read through the Proposed constitution during the Kathiani Forum.

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Makueni Constituency

Mr. Nthiwa Kilindi AYT’s Makueni civic educator conducting civic education on the proposed consti-tution in Mavindini Polytechnic in Makueni.

Ms.. Stella Agara from AYT addressing the par-ticipants at the Makueni forum.

Participants follow proceedings at the Makueni forum.

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Mwingi South Constituency

Michelle Fondo from AYT makes the open-ing remarks during the civic education forum on the proposed constitution at Migwani D.E.B. Primary school in Mwingi.

Mr. Ben Musili AYT’s civic educator conducts civic education during the civic education forum in Mwingi

Participants at the Mwingi forum follow proceed-ings of the civic education forum.

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Constitutional reforms were part of the long term solutions that were agreed on after the Kenyan coalition government signed the National peace accord and reconciliation agreement in February 2008. More than two years after this historic signing, an overwhelming 67% of Kenyans voted for the Proposed Constitution of Kenya during the August 4th 2010 referendum.

The passing of the constitution sets the stage for the passing of the over forty seven supporting legislation. The 10th and 11th parliament have a busy schedule in ensuring that the necessary legislation is passed. The youth should stand vigil in ensuring that the legislation is passed and the spirit of constitutionalism and respect for the rule of law is upheld.

The constitution took effect on the 27th August 2010, after its promulgation by the president of Kenya H.E. Mwai Kibaki. During the promulgation ceremony the President appealed to Kenyans, individually and collectively, to build a nation that will be socially and economically inclusive and cohesive where all have equal access and opportunities to realize their full potential.

To the country’s youth, the President assured them that the new constitutional dispensation will create opportunities that will lead to the attainment of their goals and dreams.

“I see in the youth of Kenya a lot of promise, energy and creativity. As a country, we have to invest in our youth to enable them to harness their potential. It is the empowered youth that will make this country globally competitive,” said the President.

According to the Constitution, the promulgation starts the countdown of the replacement of the old laws. The supporting laws for the new constitution will be enacted according to a timeline stipulated by the Fifth Schedule of the constitution. The schedule stipulates the longest period of law enactment to be within five years after the promulgation.

AYT is currently carrying out post-referendum civic education for the youth of Kenya as well as getting involved in the mechanisms that have been put in place for civil society to oversee the implementation process of the Constitution. We call upon the Kenyan youth to seize this crucial opportunity and take part in the rebuilding of Kenya.

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Conclusion

Africa Youth TrustP. O. Box 7192-00100, Laikipia Road, Kileleshwa.

Nairobi, KenyaTel: +254 20 2022269

E-mail: info@africayouthtrust.orgWebsite: www.africayouthtrust.org

© 2010 Africa Youth TrustAll rights reserved. Please contact AYT for permissionto reproduce this report or any part of it.