Invest in Somalia, professionals urged
Kenyan professionals have been urged to venture into Somalia and play a role in its development, good governance and stability.
The chairman of the Land Development and Governance Institute Ibrahim Mwathane said professionals should look beyond Kenyan borders and benefit from the opportunities available in Somalia after the wiping out of al-shabaab militia.
“The problem we have had with Somalia since the collapse of Siad Barre regime includes insecurity, influx of refugees in the country and money from piracy through our porous borders. Somalia is a problem for the East African region and the world at large and as professionals we should move in to address,” Mr Mwathane said.
Mr Mwathane was addressing the monthly Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK) Governance Forum at 680 Hotel in Nairobi, governance, professionalism and politics in the county governments Wednesday evening.
He said professionals should assist in strengthening Somalia’s new central government, local government, infrastructure, information and communications technologies.
“We have a large base of trained professionals in education and general management. Anything that the Kenyan professionals can do to stabilise Somalia’s politics can help. For security and stability in Somalia’s Kenya’s professionals must take interest in the country,” Mr Mwathane said.
He said Kenyans and East Africans stand to benefit a lot from a stable Somalia in terms of trade, investment opportunities, jobs and security in the region.
“The newly liberated Somalia has a lot of opportunities. It is our obligation as a country to ensure a peaceful and stable Somalia because of the suffering we have undergone. Piracy for instance has affected real estate in Kenya making it unaffordable."
Mr Mwathane further challenged professionals to actively participate and vie for elective positions offered in the Constitution in the next General Election.
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“Politics is about good governance, infrastructure, hospitals and food. That is why the voice of professionals should rise above those of politicians in next election. Why are Kenyan professional laid back when it comes to politics yet it’s about our daily life. Is it a colonial hangover or an attempt to run away from reality,” Mr Mwathane said.
He said professionals should play a key role in running of devolved units and not replicate their little participation at the national level to the grassroots.
ICPSK chairperson Catherine Musakali said the country has enough certified public secretaries to take up the positions offered to them in county governments. Each of the 47 counties has to have three certified public secretaries.
“We have 2500 members, enough for the county and other public and private service jobs,” Ms Musakali said.
Ms Musakali urged Kenyans to elect leaders who have zero tolerance to corruption.
“These leaders must also have a vision and policies that will help the county governments achieve their mandates. It is important that we choose leaders who are prepared to professionalise the counties, leaders who value governance and leaders who will not sacrifice all else for politics,” Ms Musakali said.
The chairperson who was accompanied by ICPSK vice-chairman Pius Nduatih and ICPSK member Nicholas Letting’ said governors and counties which exhibit best practices in governance will be publicly recognized as “Champions of Governance.”
Identify loopholes
She said a governance audit will be carried out in each county to identify successes and loopholes to be addressed.
Currently, the Champions of Governance Award only recognises individuals and institutions that exhibit best practices in governance. The next ceremony is set for November 9.
Ms Musakali said as the country moves to devolved units, professionals should actively participate in policy formulation to ensure the structures put in place for the formation of the counties have governance as the key foundation stone.
“This will ensure that the counties play the role envisaged under the constitution and that they become accountable to the common mwananchi,” Ms Musakali said.
She said professionals should ensure implementation of devolved governance enhances equity, service delivery, citizen participation and promote economic growth.
Through ICPSK monthly forums, the institute hopes to disseminate knowledge and share ideas on the governance structures that need to be in place in the county governments so as to enable them run smoothly and efficiently.
It is also hoped that through the forums, members and other stakeholders including members of the public, will gain the necessary information needed to enable them influence policy making at all levels.
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