COUNTDOWN TO 2012: MOPA holds Nairobi County Grassroots Networks Roundtable

COUNTDOWN TO 2012: MOPA holds Nairobi County Grassroots Networks Roundtable
  1. Justification

The movement model of democratic transformation as advocated by MOPA requires stronger and well organized networks. As a strategic retreat from vanguardism, the success and future of movement politics demands that we have well organized networks and networks of networks that sustain civic vigilance and demand and ensure effective citizens’ participation in governance at the lowest levels of our devolved governance structure as enshrined in the constitution.

It is for this reason that the Movement for Political Accountability (MOPA), in partnership with TI-Kenya,  conducted a one day Nairobi County Grassroots Networks Roundtable meeting to deliberate upon, and do forward planning on how to mobilize and organize a national grassroots movement to constructively engage key governance and accountability issues in the 2012 General Election campaigns. The one-day Roundtable, held on Wednesday 28th September brought together more than forty (40) participants from grassroots organizations and Nairobi bases CSO with interest in voter-centered civic education in the context of political accountability.

We believe that the strength of MOPA as a movement emanates – in deed depends – on the collective strength of the grassroots networks and organizations that comprise its membership. Similarly, it is important to strengthen existing networks by introducing clarity on the role of MOPA vis-à-vis the networks, and to enable better coordination and support for MOPA networks. It is for these reasons that MOPA undertook a network mapping exercise in Nairobi County to visit grassroots organizations, to discover potential partners, and to know how these organizations’ activities could be synergized and supported and enhanced in furtherance of MOPA’s mission of entrenching a culture of accountability in the conduct of public affairs. The Roundtable was a follow-up to the mapping exercise.

2.    Objectives of the Roundtable:

  1. assess capacity of participating organizations in Nairobi County and map out areas of comparative advantage, interest and experience
  2. deliberate on a strategy for effective participation of grassroots organizations in advocacy and monitoring during 2012 election campaigns
  3. identify key issues and intervention strategies around Devolution, the new Election Act 2011, Political Accountability
  4. reflect and strategize on the role of grassroots networks in monitoring and demanding faithful implementation of the constitution

3.    Outcomes and Emerging Issues from the Roundtable:

Participants noted the importance of such a forum bringing together diverse networks for purposes of learning from and strengthening each other in their undertakings. The forum also raised the question of how to effectively rope in the middle-class and the private sector. The meeting also identified areas in which MOPA could help strengthen their work thus:

  1. Capacity building for networks to enhance skills in community organizing and political mobilization
  2. help in drafting Accountability/Commitment Charters/ Voter-Candidate MoUs as a basis of holding elected leaders account to the promises they make during campaigns
  3. technical support for instance through provision of experts (e.g. constitutional lawyers) to guide grassroots networks on emerging issues
  4. resource support e.g. publications, research and analysis outlining roles of new constitutional offices especially Governor, Senator, MP, and County Assembly representatives
  5. that MOPA should continue to facilitate these network Exchanges/Roundtables, especially out of Nairobi

4.    Networks & Organizations Present:

1.Hema la Katiba

2.Youth Agenda

3.MOPA/AfriCOG

4.Unga Revolution

5.Africa Youth Trust

6.Africa Peace Forum

7.Africa Peace Forum

8.Kenya Youth League

9.Non-Violence Agents

10.Bunge la Mwananchi

11.Dandora Youth Forum

12.Langata Youth Network

13.MuunganoWaWanavijiji

14.Mukuru Youth Association

15.Mukuru Youth Association

16.New Light Youth Association

17.Githurai Grassroots Network

18.Kasarani Youth Support Initiative

19.Youth in Focus Foundation (YIFF)

20.Githurai Youth Sports Association

21.NairobiYouth Human Rights Network

22.Maringo Community Resource Centre

23.Transparency International (TI-) Kenya

24.Kangemi Women Empowerment Centre

25.Kangemi Youth for Power and Development

26.Maringo Community Resource Centre (MACORCE)

27.Youth Community Led Environmental Action Network(Y-CLEAN)

28.Consortium for the Empowerment & Devt. of Marginalized Communities (CEDMAC)