The 1440 Challenge

The 1440 Challenge is an awards program — totaling $75,000 — aimed at further developing the best new ideas that help people learn, improve, and share the life skills of self-awareness, authenticity, trust, and empathy. These relationship skills help people connect at deeper levels with themselves, each other, and their communities. By leveraging communication technology and social media, winning entries will accelerate the development of these skills in the areas of education, wellness, or the workplace.

Most people don’t treat the relationships in their lives with the same level of study, rigor, or practice that are applied to areas such as academics, sports, or their careers. Yet the bonds we build with friends, loved ones, and members of our communities are some of the most important efforts of our lives — and certainly the most memorable.

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Young MPs have failed to nurture a new political order

By Joseph Lister Nyaringo

This  is how Francis Imbuga, a Kenyan playwright captures the events that are unfolding in our Country in his Play Betrayal in the City, “ it was better while we waited, we have killed our past and are busy killing the future”.

After nearly 20 years of acrimonious debate for a new constitutional dispensation, Parliament passed the draft constitution that will be subjected to a national referendum by July 2010.

Contrary to this positive stride, a section of young MPs, who are supposed to be torchbearers to foster a new social, political and economic order led by the Minster for Higher education honourable William Ruto have decided to mobilize Kenyans to reject the draft constitution.

Ruto’s “no” line up includes: Eugene Wamalwa, Isaac Ruto, Cyrus Jirongo, Joshua Kutuny and Peter Munya to mention but a few.  They all have a democratic right to accept or reject the constitution, but their timing is suspect and sinister.

This line up reflects that young people in political circles want our Country to remain in the old order by being ardent protectors of the status quo instead of being catalysts for change and transformative leadership. I’m convinced that majority of young leaders in our Country are more ethnically inclined, self centred and therefore worse than the older politicians.

Last week, a media Columnist, Mr. Barrack Muluka  highlighted how Mr.Eugene Wamalwa, who is also MP for Saboti and one of the youngest MPs in Parliament, urging his community in a vernacular radio, to vote for him so he will get the opportunity to sleep in State House. The legislator is now in the league of President Moi’s political students, William Ruto, Cyrus Jirongo and Isaac Ruto of the YK92 fame. He has joined the duo who sneaked Moi back to power in 1992, not for the Cockerel but to mobilize Kenyans to reject the draft constitution.  What a shame!

By Cyrus Jirongo and William Ruto joining their political mentor former President Moi, in the “ no” camp over the draft constitution, they are sending a message to Kenyans that Kanu’s old styles of running national affairs is blossoming back in full throttle through young leaders.

This is not the first time young leaders have led Kenyans down. In the last elections, Uhuru Kenyatta dethroned himself from leader of official opposition and decided to support Kibaki’s re- election. The Gatundu South MP left about 1.8 Million Kenyans who voted for him in 2002 in suspense and also subjected multiparty politics in dire straits. This was selfish, egocentric and a lack of principles in leadership.

We are tired of leaders who are lackadaisical on issues of national importance but ready to shout when their comfort zones are threatened. Some have become venomous while in their tribal backyards and what comes out of their mouth is incitement, hate and sowing seeds of discord which is a recipe for chaos in our ethnically diverse nation. They have forgotten the rough and tumble Kenyans went through in early 2008.

All politics is local but it’s irrelevant for those with national leadership ambitions to concentrate in their ethnic enclaves. If William Ruto wants to endear himself nationally, he must articulate the interest of all Kenyans, instead of behaving as if he loves his Kalenjin people more than God who created them. Dragging his differences with the Prime Minister to the entire Kalenjin community does not make sense either.

As a young person, I will be the last person to advocate for leadership change or support some one based on their age. One can be 100 years and still stand tall on issues beneficial for the Kenyan people. After all, except honourable John Michuki, majority of the older generation leaders are supporting the new draft constitution which sends a very strong message that they want to bequeath a good country to the young generation. On the other side of the ledger, I’m not trying to imply that all young legislators (MPs) in Kenya are sympathizers of the status quo. There are those who have done very well.

I urge our young legislators to learn from President Obama, whose administration has seized the opportunity to reform key institutions in the US like Heath Care which defeated many presidents before him. On global transformation, he recently unveiled a policy with a target to combat nuclear proliferation as well as a focus to change America’s foreign policy. By and large, he is focusing for greater achievements that reflect a new social, political, and economic order for America.

In Kenya, we have sung “change” for many decades and now we must ignore the young or the old who want to derail us from achieving this end. In fact, many of those now rejecting the new constitutional are doing so to settle political scores or for egocentric reasons.

We all contend that the draft constitution is not free from imperfections and will be amended as needed during the implementation stage. After all; our laws are not cast on stones. Jesus came and was accused of violating the laws of Moses, when he taught on the new Covenant. We have closed the Red Sea, and we are swiftly heading to the Promised Land. Let us not be detoured or derailed Kenyans, let us vote yes for our future and the future of our children.

The writer is based in New Jersey, USA and blogs on http://listernyaringo.blogspot.com/

12 Reasons Why Kenya’s National Convention Executive Council Says YES

The National Convention Executive Council (NCEC) endorses the ratification of the Proposed Constitution by the people of Kenya at the Referendum. The Proposed constitution secures the Sovereignty of the People instead of the sovereignty of the government. It shall entrench the Supremacy of the Constitution instead of the supremacy of Parliament. The expanded Bill of rights shall finally secure the principle of the Indivisibility and inalienability of rights and freedoms. Kenyans now have the basis of building a democracy where the dignity of every citizen shall be the center piece of government policy. This shall fundamentally alter the basis of state policy and budgeting in Kenya and it shall greatly deal with inequalities that exist in Kenya today.

Popular Participation shall be secured with the enhanced platforms of people’s participation in governance including stronger political parties, better representation of the people and the avenues of legislation. Further, National Values and Goals have been articulated to offer the standards against which to regulate the behaviour of all citizens and public officials alike. It is difficult to understand how we have survived under the old constitution that we are about to get rid of!

The Separation of Powers between the Judiciary, the legislature and the executive shall ensure that rights are protected, justice delivered, opportunities and security enhanced for all Kenyans.

The introduction of vertical and horizontal Checks and Balances especially with the entrenchment of key constitutional commissions shall greatly give Kenyans value for money and check impunity and facilitate a new culture of governance under a more clean, lean, effective, accountable and responsive government because the sanctions for violations of the rules shall be severe. This is the secret to ensuring the upholding the rule of law. For example administrative units in Kenya could not have been increased in total disregard of the Provinces and Districts Act (1992) as we saw the Moi and Kibaki administration do.

The elaborate provision for the Diversity and Inclusivity of all Kenyans by recognizing our ethnic, regional, religious, gender and even intergenerational diversities is a major pillar towards building a more cohesive, united, tolerant, proud and peaceful nation.

The principle of Equity is the hall mark of this Proposed Constitution and NCEC encourages Kenyans to see the great opportunities that this new constitution shall present in unlocking the great opportunities and potential within the nation. The public finance and public service chapters of the PC shall enhance equity in a significant manner. The National revenue commission and the principles guiding budgeting shall offer Kenya a major platform for embracing the value of equity and justice. The needs of Kenyans shall be responded to in a meaningful manner.

The provision of the principle of Devolution is remarkable. Kenya shall now witness a vibrant nation in all the constituencies since resources have been significantly devolved and the creation of county governments with meaningful powers shall greatly enable every Kenyan to participate in creating a productive state and a fair socio-economic system. The fact that regions have not been provided is academic since it is not clear what has been missed now that Kenyans rejected the regions.

The vetting of all senior civil servants, the provision of cabinet ministers to be appointed from outside parliament and the securing of the independence of public services from excessive politicization shall greatly secure Public Service Neutrality and Professionalism which will lead to Kenya witnessing a more responsive and effective government. This is massive.

Equal Protection of and before the Law is the twelfth principle that NCEC expected this constitution to provide for. And yes with separation of powers and the elaborate entrenchment of the rule of law, the corrupt and rogue state shall become a thing of the past and indeed equal protection of and under the law shall become a reality.

NCEC has witnessed distortions and misinformation that has followed the COE draft passing through parliament. These are around ten areas.  Abortion, Kadhi’s courts, land, devolution, rights of armed servicemen, denial of counties to certain minority ethnic communities, the vetting of judges, the provincial administration, the role of the senate and argument that there are too many representatives and government. All these issues are managerial, administrative and of policy in nature. Please note that none of the arguments on these points offends any of the 12 principles set out above which are the basis of assessing the acceptability of a new constitution. Policy issues always have contentions along moral, ideological and sometimes political lines. Religious, ideological, political and individual interests are the reasons why these ten areas of the NO movement have emerged. They are not based on known principled foundations.

As the organization that organized the nation to embark on the agenda of reforms, reconstruction and reconciliation since 1996, we at NCEC  have the moral authority to call on all Kenyans to register as voters and to emphatically vote YES for the Proposed Constitution.

Finally we call upon all agencies to work with the Committee of Experts and the IIEC in carrying out effective civic and voter education to ensure a productive referendum so that Kenya shall sing Katiba Mpya, Maisha Mapya from all corners of our great nation.

For and on Behalf of the NCEC

Pheroze Nowrojee,

Convener and Spokesperson

and

Cyprian Orina Nyamwamu

General Secretary, NCEC

Panafricanist Policy and Governance Strategist

April 14, 2010

You are the World – the World is You

Using personal development to facilitate and lead groups and teams

Date: April 23rd-25th, 2010
Presented by: Drs. Max and Ellen Schupbach, Portland, USA

This is the commencement seminar of a 3 year Leadership and Facilitation Program (for details, please see below)

Personal Development and Leadership

This is a 3 day seminar focused on using personal development for leading and facilitating groups and teams, and using the issues of the world for personal growth.

Deep Democracy is a psychological and sociological principle that also uses concepts from physics and mathematics to show how events in the outer world are intimately linked with our inner experiences and personal development. From this perspective, your experience of your body symptoms, the issues that appear in your relationships, and the conflicts and events in the world around you are entangled.

This seminar will provide new concepts and skills for inner-work and group-work that can be applied directly with your projects, teams, and groups in a new way. It will also show how to use difficult and impossible situations as a meditation practice for personal development.

The Seminar

This seminar is part of a team and group facilitation training, and will focus particularly on the self-management (or inner work) aspect. Each day will follow a similar format: Mornings will focus on teaching and learning personal and professional development skills. In the afternoon, you will learn new group and facilitation practices. For participants who have taken these seminars before, emphasis will be placed on the actual practice of the concepts.

What You Will Learn

You will “take home” tools that can assist in your relationship and team  issues with the world at large, and that help to understand that  the path of being more effective in the world is guided by your personal development.

Day 1: Nature and the Facilitator

Process-oriented Inner Work practices bring an outside perspective that can be essential to supplement the skills and methods that we use to lead our own personal projects, as well as our teams and groups. You will learn nature-based inner work practices for personal and professional development. Process-oriented inner work exercises can also assist in deepening the religious and spiritual path that you have chosen. The psychological aspect of this day focuses on escaping the trap of the “advisor”, who either doesn’t have sufficient information about the situation, or shares the same information – and therefore cannot bring forth truly new solutions.

Day 2: Relationship as a key to Self Discovery

You will study how working with relationship issues can assist in the process of getting to know yourself, and in finding solutions for the world at large. You will learn new ways of resolving relationship issues by using them as a practice ground for personal and professional development, and understand how they are directly connected to the timespirits*1 that rule the world’s conflicts.

Day 3: Body Symptoms as a Guide for Leadership and Facilitation

This day will focus on using body experiences and “gut reactions” as additional guides for unfolding and developing leadership and facilitation potential. The body knows. You will learn how to discover and follow body wisdom that is not simply instinctive and reactive, but is connected to the wisdom of the surrounding world at large.

The Process Oriented Leadership training consists of three, year-long courses. This seminar and those following are individual, certifiable courses that can be taken separately. The entire program can be taken as a Certificate Course in Process Oriented Leadership. The various courses work as building blocks that the participants can mix and match as needed. The DDI leadership course will consist of a year each of 1) Coaching, 2) Facilitation and Conflict Resolution in Groups and Relationships, and 3) Organizational and Business Development – Vision, Strategy and Leadership.

The seminar will consist of 30% theory in mini-lectures and 70% practical demonstrations and applied exercises in which you can:

1) try out what you have learned within the seminar setting
2) design solutions for the actual situation that you are working on

All you need to know

When?

April 23-24 the seminar starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.
April 25th the seminar starts at 9a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.

How to register?

Phone: 0732354902 or 0729467413
Email: EAleaders@deepdemocracyinstitute.org

How much?

Price: 5,000 KES (does not include accommodation)
Some partial scholarships are available

Where?

Carmelite Community (near Tangaza College)
Langata South Road, Karen, Nairobi
Some accommodation is available, please book directly with the conference center
Tel: 020 89-04-87 (Note the chanqe 020)

*1 “timespirits” or “Zeitgeist” is the general cultural, intellectual, ethical, spiritual, and/or political climate within a nation or even specific groups, along with the general ambience, morals, and sociocultural direction or mood of an era (similar to the English word mainstream or trend).

The Facilitators

Max Schupbach, Ph.D., Dip. PW,  is president of maxfxx, a consulting group working worldwide with organizations, including fortune 100 corporations, international NGOs, government agencies, and religious communities. He has coached multi-ethnic executive teams in South Africa, and worked with Australian Aboriginal communities and Native North American Tribes. Max has facilitated conflict resolution between Croatian and Serbian groups during the Yugoslavian war, and relationships between prison inmates, correctional personnel, and prison administrators in high security prisons on the verge of revolt. He is co-founder and president and training director of the Deep Democracy Institute.

Ellen Schupbach, Ph.D., Dip. PW, is a Certified Processwork Diplomate who specializes in the personal development of the leader and facilitator. She wrote her doctoral thesis on the spiritual experience of the facilitator and coach. Ellen is co-founder and executive director of the Deep Democracy Institute, a Global Think Tank that researches leadership issues worldwide, and aims to create leadership trainings to develop more collaborative systems in today’s diverse societies. She has co-created training programs for Palestine, the USA, UK, Ukraine, and Kenya.