Statement on Resignation.



Greetings!



Honorable members of the Kenyan Community in Ukraine. You must be aware by now that I have resigned as President of the community and would like to make public the key reasons for this decision.



As consistent with the constitution of the Kenyan Community in Ukraine, I have given 48 hours notice to the KCU, and my last day of service will be 23rd July 2005.



Although we have had our differences of opinions at the Executive Board of Directors, I would like to express my appreciation to you and the organization for the learning experience I have had with the community. Indeed it has been a great experience developing this organization together.



The main reasons for my resignation as President is based on conflict of values, basic principles of organizational management, fundamental requirements of leadership, wrong decisions as a result of misguidance and lack of support from the Executive Board of Directors on key issues and decisions as regards the Constitution of the KCU as well as desired direction for the organization.



While voluntarily resigning, I would like to reiterate my commitment to integrity both personally and publicly.



It was my responsibility as President of KCU, through the Board of Directors, to provide KCU leadership with a positive, innovative and responsive work environment that challenges professionally but yet allows the space to develop leadership personality and skills. It however became increasingly and extremely difficult to achieve this in an environment where targets and obligations set are not honored or met. In fact as clearly stipulated in the constitution and as further affirmed through oath of office.



I must at this point acknowledge that KCU is an organization with potential and that with good organization and a committed leadership based on values, strict leadership principles, commitment and sensitivity to the beliefs as stated in the constitution, will go a long way. This potential is expressed in key developments that so far are:



Commitment by the Embassy to in writing give the Kenyan Community in Ukraine recognition and further authorize in wring the President of the Kenyan Community to intervene on issues related to welfare and education in Ukraine.
Commitment by the Embassy to discuss with the Ministry of Education in Kenya a policy on commercial agents to institutions of higher learning.
Setting up of an education Fund within the early stages of its humble beginnings.
Setting up of education and welfare committees within KCU.
Plans underway to initiate bursary and scholarship for Kenyan students in Ukraine by the Government of the Republic of Kenya
A website to help the Kenyan Community in Ukraine develop its global outlook.
A professional outlook as a corporate entity.
A recent meeting with His Excellency Kenya’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation to discuss key and strategic interests of KCU in Ukraine.
Proposed visit to Moscow by a delegation of the Kenyan Community in Ukraine to discuss support on administrative aspects and to seek the personal involvement and support of His Excellency as the patron.



Honorable members, should there be anything I can do to ease the transition of my responsibilities, I have advised the Executive Board of Directors to let me know. Once again, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to and to work with you in developing the community.



I would also like to acknowledge and take full responsibility for any decisions or actions in violation of the constitution of the Kenyan Community in Ukraine based on the provisions of the same and with strict adherence to the due process.



Honorable members based on these proposals, the Executive Board of the KCU with your support and approval shall be able to review the adequacy of arrangements and either redirect the organization or review the purpose of its existence.





Yours Sincerely,













Eddy Orinda



Cc: Members of the Advisory Council and Kenya High Commission to the Russian Federation.

Good day to you!

I think this is a great opportunity to include our concerns and push policy recomendations on the agenda of the commision. I would also like to thank Cameron Neil, CEO International Young Professionals Foundation, for appointing me to take lead on this and I must say I feel honored.

I am happy to help in putting our thoughts on this initiative in the fashion of hopes,
concerns, comments, questions. Basically as Cameron already put it ... what we think are the keys to development in our continent, country and community.

Eventually, the IYPF would like to run something in the June newsletter that uses the piece below + your responses to it ... and also work to put together a letter from you as African YPs to the Commission via the IYPF.

I think this will also serve as a spring board to being invited by the commision to help shape the direction of discussions on the same. Meanwhile, Cameron has asked me to work on a paper that will launch us into discussions and eventually the letter to the commision. This is by no means conclusive but just to get us off the ground. I will make it available soon and will be talking to you all soon!

To read and know more about me please visit my website at http://www.takingitglobal.org/community/profile.html?memberid=3434

Hoping to hear from you all!

Cheers!

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International Commission On Africa To Meet For First Time
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Africa's future, its economy and the health and education of its people will be the focus of a new international commission meeting

Tuesday for the first time, Dow Jones reports. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who launched the Commission for Africa
in February to help heal "the scar of the conscience of the world," will chair the talks at his 10 Downing St. office.

The commission will report next spring and present its findings to the G8 summit of leading industrial nations in July 2005. Members of the commission include Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, South Africa's Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, K.Y. Amoako, executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, former US Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker and Britain's Treasury chief Gordon Brown.

The Guardian (UK) writes that the commission, described as a follow-up to the Brandt report, will take a fresh look at Africa policy to produce an action plan for more rapid growth. Former World Bank chief economist Nick Stern is expected to be named as the commission's policy chief today. The themes of their report will be decided today and are expected to include conflict resolution and peace-keeping,economy and governance. The economic section of the report will concentrate on three areas: growth opportunities, the role of the private sector and finance.

The [UK] Treasury insists it will be working with African economists rather than dictating to them. The role of the private sector, a source said, would not be about selling
off a country's resources to multinationals but about increasing small, local businesses. An assessment will be made of each country's financial requirement and of how to raise investment.

The report will also discuss how much countries can borrow and the use of aid in support of trade. One of the mechanisms under discussion will be the international financing facility, which allows rich countries to borrow against their aid flows.

The Times (UK) comments in an editorial initiatives are certainly not lacking. The United Nations, aid agencies, the European Union and scores of non-governmental organizations all have special programs for Africa. The difficulty has been in money, implementation and global long-term commitment. For this reason, Tony Blair’s Downing Street summit on Africa this afternoon is doubly welcome.

Not only will it assess the implementation of the many promises made to Africa by Britain and other Western nations – as well as Africa’s promises in return of better government; it will also attempt to refocus the attention of richer nations, especially during the British presidency of the Group of Eight next year, on the needs of this poorest continent. Blair’s occasional millenarian pronouncements on Africa have been derided as Utopian and he would be wise not to promise too much. But Labour has put money where its mouth is. Aid to Africa, which will reach £1 billion next year, is triple the figure for 1997.

The focus on the neediest and on those most committed to clean governments has increased the effectiveness of British aid. And the attempt to move away from a dependency culture to a “partnership”, based on more equal trading relations, has underpinned the efforts of British business to exploit Africa’s opportunities.

The Globe and Mail (Canada) meanwhile writes former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien tried a similar approach [as Blair's Commission] two years ago, culminating in the summit in Kananaskis. There, the G8 signed on to a unique action plan to alleviate African poverty through aid, debt relief, trade liberalization, direct investment, and co-operation with African leaders to foster good governance and prevent armed conflict.

Africa had never before figured so prominently at a G8 meeting. But even then, critics complained that the commitments were vague, lacked resources and were written in ambiguous wording. Canadian officials say the goals will be different this time. In addition to the traditional focuses of how to direct aid money, increase donations and manage debt, the commission will also concentrate on unleashing the private sector in Africa, one senior official said. That plays into Martin's agenda, insiders say, and will be pursued vigorously by Goodale. The Prime Minister co-authored a report earlier this year under the auspices of the United Nations Development Program that called for heavier involvement of companies from rich countries in the entrepreneurial activities of poor countries.

A separate World Bank paper calls for development through the changing of small-business regulations in poor countries to make it easier for cottage industries to join the formal economy, access loans and prosper. These documents are part of a new approach to development thinking that can bring the disparate members of the G8 together, the senior official said.

Is it the Crime or the Criminal?

Overview

Criminological research in crime prevention studies are becoming globalized even though the reach of laws may not yet be global. Many disciplines are concerned with the causes and control of illegal activity perpetrated by humans against fellow human beings or property. Therefore by studying trends and successes in other systems we might be able to come up with a program that can work for us. To effective address and prevent crime, there is need for an informed approach based on theories and ethical principals that uphold human beings and this makes research a priority within the police force.

Following an initial consultation with the PCIO Nyanza on the situation of crime within Kisumu and Nyanza generally, we are embarking on a study in Kisumu to establish the basis for a major research to Identify innovative and strategic approaches to preventing crime in Kismu and indeed Nyanza.

Normally, society governs itself by sets of norms that are totally unrelated to penal codes partly because the police are largely dealing with the results of crime and are not exposed to public response perhaps for lack of a response mechanism.

Our initial reaction is that will enhance the police efforts. Part of the exercise will involve finding out why and possibilities and opportunities that exist around establishing a reserch program.

Fred Omollo and Eddy Orinda are Psychology and Criminology students at Kenya Institute of Professional Counseling (KIPC) and Washington State University (WSU-ASWSU) respectively. Fred and Eddy are heavily involved with issues of understanding crime and human behavior which indeed inform part of studies in Crime and Criminal behavior respectively.

As part of studies we are proposing to support and help with research in preventing crime in Kisumu. The Kenya Institute of Professional Counseling has agreed in principle to play a supervisory role and act as the legal personality to this initial research.

Walk In Love Project Account (Securing Gains Made, Seeking Further Support)

Inspired by a common background (The need to pursue University education) the trio of Eddy Orinda, Onesmus Orinda and John Gobanga got together to venture into a 200Km walk event.

The event was set for the 14th of February 2004 (Valentine’s Day) to a climax ending in Nakuru on the 18th of February 2004. In consistent pursuit of the same, we managed to put a colorful flag off ceremony from the Jomo Kenyatta Grounds Kisumu. The event was graced by John Olago Aluoch – A prominent lawyer and Kisumu Town West Parliamentary aspirant, assisted by Cllr. Shakil Shabir now His Worship the Mayor of Kisumu alongside Cllr. Shelly Awan. The business community and the public were well represented at the event.

With a good security presence the Walk officially began at 1.10pm from the grounds through Oginga Odinga Street and off to Nairobi road. Along with four other supportive volunteers ( Mercy Ogutu, John Omondi, Amos Oguna and Wilson Lubangah), we experienced an adventurous journey for five days and four nights and finally arrived in Nakuru at 1.30pm ushered by the police into the town providing walk security and convenience a long the Nakuru streets on which we toured.

We had four major stops as follows: Day One – Kisumu to Awasi, Day Two – Awasi to Kericho, Day Three – Kericho to Kedowa, Day Four – Kedowa to Salgaa and Finally Salgaa to Nakuru. Officially hosted and received by Bishop Mark Kariuki of Nakuru Deliverance Church (Life Celebration Center)

We managed to pay a courtesy call to the DO 1 in Kericho and the DC in Nakuru on the third and fifth days respectively.

In this account we raise our plight to the public who were not necessarily able to walk with us but acknowledged our efforts and our desperate need to make our lives and of other Kenyans better.

The Walk event has conceived a lifetime committed foundation (Walk In Love Foundation) that will enable other needy students with the same plight to pursue their dreams in education and build their professionals lives.

The WIL Project introduces to you the ‘LOVE PARCELS’ as a point of contact for your generous donations. There are 70 parcels in total out there and we are targeting filling at least 40 of them by the end of March 2004.

We are also careful to say thank you to all who participated and supported in kind, cash or both at any stage. We really are proud of you and we say THANK YOU SO MUCH! You walked with us an extra mile to make a difference in our lives and indeed that of the beneficiaries of the conceived Walk In Love Foundation.

Kindly let this walk go beyond 200Km and into the future through your support and good will. We still are not close to our target of 2 Million Kenya Shillings hence the reason for the one month campaign climaxing on the 11th of April 2004. Your coin will make all the difference. Please access the tins in Kericho, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nairobi for your contribution.

The project officially winds up on the 11th of April 2004 with a major concert whose objective will be two fold. One to publicly acknowledge support in all kind and to officially launch the Walk In Love Foundation (Concert details will follow shortly in the publicity materials) please plan to attend. Come and view our photo gallery and experience the walk on the same day. We took tones of photos on the way and during courtesy calls.

The walk will be an annual event and will be celebrated every 14th of February. We are currently seeking and recruiting volunteers to help develop products for the wind concert and as well facilitate the campaign.

Eddy Orinda is proceeding to the University of Kiev in Ukraine to study International Economic Relations with a Major in International Law.

John Gobanga is returning to Pan Africa Christian College to complete his degree in Theology.

Onesmus Orinda is proceeding to the University of Central England in Birmingham to study Fashion and Interior Design.

For any information please get in touch with us via wilproject@yahoo.com or call us on 0722 502908 or 0734 661745.

Eddy Orinda
Partnerships/Event Manager
Walk In Love Project
P. O Box 2006, Kisumu, Kenya.
Email: wilproject@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.projects.takingitglobal.org/wilproject


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‘It was a lifetime experience that changed my frame of thinking. We must now secure the gains made as we seek further support’ – Eddy Orinda, Partnerships/Event Manager.

‘It revealed to me the vigor and vision that the pursuit for success needs’ – Onesmus Orinda, Media and Publicity.

‘After a four month stint of mirage, I can finally see light at the end of tunnel. It was worth it’ – John Gobanga, Logistics Coordinator.

‘When he first spoke to me I sat back and thought. Oh! My God this is a great idea!’ – Cllr. Shelly Awan

‘It is a good course and I think this is the direction we should take as Kenyans’ – Patrick Osare, District Commissioner Nakuru

‘They are walking for it, not waiting for it’ – John Olago Aluoch, Lawyer and Parliamentary Aspirant for Kisumu Town West Constituency.

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Thank you for accepting to partner with us in this cause. Indeed “true love can walk an extra mile”

Idea conceived on the 3rd of September 2003 at 1am by Eddy Orinda and further developed by Onesmus Orinda.

John Gobanga was invited into the project in the month of November 2003.

Every walker made at least 1 000 000 strides

Each day we walked an average of 40Km

All the seven walkers drunk a total of 220 Liters of water and Soda.

We spent five days and four nights

We had a total of four stops all the way.

The longest stretch was 47Km (Kisumu – Awasi)

The shortest stretch was 25Km (Salgaa – Nakuru)

The only lady in the walking team (Mercy Ogutu) had the least demand for massages and first aid.

The youngest walker was John Omondi.

The eldest walker was Wilson Lubangah.

John Gobanga walked for five days without massage or any form of first aid.

The most serious injuries were egg size blisters suffered by Wilson Lubnagah and could not go beyond Awasi.

Six walkers went all the way – 200Km.

The walks generally started at 8am each morning and ended at 8pm every night.

The best hospitality was offered by Nakuru Deliverance Church at no cost.

There were no corporate contributions. The project was entirely supported by the youth and individuals.

The project took five months to organize.

The ‘LOVE PARCELS’ were launched by the Deputy Mayor on the 15th of January 2004 at the British Council.

There was no media coverage for the event by any of the media houses.

There are a total of 70 ‘LOVE PARCELS’ in the public spread across Kisumu, Kericho, Nakuru and Nairobi.

The beneficiaries this year are three.

Gold, Silver and Bronze contributors will be acknowledged on the 11th of April 2004.

250 photos taken between Kisumu and Nakuru.