The Orange Newsletter Volume 2 Number 6 7 February 2013

7/29/2019 The Orange Newsletter Volume 2 Number 6 7 February 2013

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NEWSLETTER OF THE ORANGE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT

Volume 2 Number 6 Thursday 7 February 2013

CORD Presidential Candidate Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga addresses supporters at Migori Stadium, Migory County

CORD is the Winning CoalitionOrange Correspondent

Scientific opinion polls have all alongindicated that CORD is the winning

coalition. Recent Ipsos Synovate, Strategicand Infotrack polls have placed the CORDpresidential candidate, Raila Odinga andhis running mate Kalonzo Musyoka, at

between 44 and 46 well ahead of theJubilee Alliance at 42%.

CORD is popular because it is a national

and popular democratic movement whichaims to form a government that will build ademocratic society and provide a better and

dignified life, Maisha Bora, for each andevery Kenyan.

CORD has a dream of a society where eachand every Kenyan enjoys abundanteconomic prosperity, social justice,

democratic rights and lives in dignity. Inshort, Maisha Bora! CORDs mission is totransform Kenya from bad governance andpoverty to a democratic, prosperous,

socially just and equitable society, throughprogressive economic, political, socialpolicies and programmes.

CORD envisions a powerful, vibrant andindependent nation- state with a compelling

national identity and strong core- valuesand principles including:

Principled, vibrant, dynamic,innovative and visionary leadership, afirst among equals, that serves thepeople of Kenya;

A democratic nation based on equityand social justice for all in Kenya;


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Constitutionalism and rule of law; People centred decision making

through devolved government;

Equal opportunity irrespective ofethnic background, race, religion,physical abilities, geographic location

or gender;

Integrity; Accountable and responsive citizens

and state;

Responsible self-determination; Respect for individual and peoples

rights and freedoms;

A nation that rewards performanceand merit;

A united and patriotic nation thatcelebrates and respects our diversityand positive cultures;

A nation in which we determine ourown destiny.

CORD is committed to political inclusion,equity and integrity. These shall guide allour governance and policy makingprocesses, at all levels and in all public and

private sectors. Maisha Bora for each andevery Kenyan shall be realized andmaintained only if there is a newconstitutional dispensation, a vibrant

expanding economy that benefits each andevery citizen, a safe and secureenvironment, and social services that serveevery Kenyan irrespective of their wealth,

tribe, geographic location, age religion,gender or abilities. Additionally, CORDgovernment shall respect the constitutionaldevolution of power and resources, beaccountable and transparent, and generally

govern well.

The governance of the nation, at all levelsshall be fair and just with all Kenyans,

including the president, operating under the

law and constitution. All Kenyans shall beserved and resourced equitably, with thepeople playing a central role in the

governance of the country.

CORD shall also govern in a way thatensures future generations survive through

good inter-generational democracy. Thegovernance of Kenya shall therefore be allinclusive underpinned by democraticparticipation, while recognising and

catering for the rights of the minority. Thepeople of Kenya shall be sovereign in that

setup. The parliamentary system, as

opposed to an imperial presidential system,will be institutionalised. All institutions ofgovernance shall thus be transformed to bein tandem with the new democratic and

equitable Kenya.

CORD shall conduct our party affairs in

accordance to our partys constitution and

agreed regulations so as to nurture anddemonstrate to the country the proper way

to run a party and the benefits that accruefrom a vibrant, democratic and progressiveparty. We shall create mechanisms to

ensure that the CORD governmentimplements programmes in accordancewith the party manifesto.

Democratic governance is only possible ifthe state institutions are governed andmanaged professionally, equitably,

inclusively and on meritocracy. UnderCORD, all government and state operationsshall be institutionalised. This means thatthe current state institutions shall be

systematized and institutionalised to serveKenyans effectively and efficiently. As aresult, state institutions shall bestrengthened, improved, reoriented to

reflect the face of Kenya.

In pursuing integrity and high ethicalstandards in Kenya, CORD is committed to

ending rampant corruption in the country. Itis estimated that corruption currently costsour country more than KShs.150 billioneach year!

CORD government shall ensure theimplementation of procurement regulationsfor transparency in governmentprocurement. We shall pass laws to mete

out severe punishment for corrupt practices.We will also streamline the investigativeand prosecution structures to avoidduplication of duties, inactive institutions

and wasted resources.

Restorative Justice and Affirmative Action

If we are to have a Kenya that is trulyrepresentative and inclusive, then theperspectives and aspirations of ALL

Kenyans, must be adequately enunciated,understood and promoted than has hithertobeen the case. Addressing the needs of thepastoralists, women, youth, physicallyimpaired, minorities including Asians and

Europeans, and other historicallydisadvantaged communities will certainlybe an unquestionable priority of CORD.

We recognize the disparity that exists inour country in relation to the issue ofdevelopment and advancement of thesegroups. We believe that in spite of

historical injustices, we have abundant

talents among our women, historicallymarginalised communities, minority andspecial groups, which can be tapped for thegood of the country.

In addition to a fund for the youth, CORDgovernment shall guarantee immediate jobs

for the youth by pursuing labour intensive

infrastructural works and invest in skillstraining programmes for the youth. We

shall implement an affirmative action forwomen through the principle of equalopportunities for both men and women. In

order to empower women economically, weshall set s special micro-credit schemes tobe disbursed to women groups and

institutions. In all public servicesappointments, we shall support theinclusion of minorities and special groupsas a way of correcting historical injustice.

National Unity

CORD is committed to nationalism as a

basis of our people's unity. We shall pursuethe principle of national unity and nationalreconciliation as the basis of building aunified modern, patriotic and industrialized

Kenyan nation. Colonialism ushered indivisions and polarization of our countrybased on tribes. The colonial system setone tribe against another in their policy of

divide and rule. The three post-colonialgovernments of Kenyatta, Moi and Kibakiperfected that colonial system ofundemocratic rule. It is therefore notsurprising that the current government is

still autocratic and enhances self-interestsat the expense of national interests. CORDshall reverse these through a newconstitutional order and leadership that is

accountable.

National Independence

CORD will pursue independent policiesthat will guarantee space for Kenyans tofollow Kenyan dreams and aspirations. Forexample, crime and terrorism shall be dealt

with according to internally generated anddriven national policies. This shall beunderpinned by a CORD foreign policy

that is independent and guarantees policyspace for Kenya in the international arena.

In this era of globalization, if a nation is notguided by well-articulated national

interests, and mobilizes its internal humanand material resources, the country couldbe re-colonized by the powerful nations ofthe world. Sovereignty could be practically

jeopardized though theoretically we wouldstill imagine that we are independent.


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CORDs Presidential Candidate Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga addresses supporters at Gusii Stadium, Kisii County

We Must Industrialize Our AgricultureLarry Gumbe

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, speaking inMalaysia on 17 November 2012, called forcollaboration between Kenya and East

Asian nations and institutions that will help

redefine and rebrand the countrys globalimage while repositioning Kenyasproducts and services internationally.

This, he said, is what Asian nations, led byformer Prime Minister Dr. MahathirMohamed did to achieve tremendous

political and economic transformation overthe last few decades.

The Asian Miracle compelled a

fundamental change in the world economicorder. A small club of industrializednations can no longer dictate the future ofglobal economy. It is the G-20, no longerthe G-7 that is the most influential forum of

global leaders, the PM said.

He recalled that under Mathirs leadership,Malaysia said no to the Washington

Consensus during the Asian FinancialCrisis and time has since proved that he

acted in the best interest of the region andthe country.

He said Kenyas Vision 2030 borrows

heavily from Malaysias Vision 2020. He

expressed hope that in about a decade,Kenya will be where Malaysia is today andeven catch up.

Mr Odinga recalled that way back in 1955,the first Afro-Asian Conference was held inBandung, Indonesia where 29 mostly

newly independent countries gathered andpledged to work together to oppose

colonialism, neo-colonialism, andimperialism.

Mr Odingas observations lead us to posethe question: What really is the meaning ofthe word development'? Our leaders inpolitics, religion, academics and other

spheres of life are all professed proponentsof development. To contextualise ourpresentation, let us examine this word. Weare all agreed that development takes place

through economic activity. The object ofeconomic activity is to satisfy human

needs. The basic human needs includefood, shelter, health, education andclothing. More human needs arise as

society progresses, i.e. as economic activity

is expanded and intensified. These needsare either satisfied or not, depending on thestate of the economy.

Historically, distinct social classes havearisen as a result of economic activity.Serially, hunter-gatherers, peasants and the

industrial working classes, in theprogression from purely subsistence

societies to modern industrial societies. Inthis progression, human kind has been

progressively liberated from completedependence on nature to harnessing andcontrolling nature for its benefit.

Economic progress therefore leads to

development. Development therefore is aprocess of liberating human kind from themercy of nature, i.e. backwardness.Engineering has played a leading role in

mechanising systems in humandevelopment. The mechanisation and


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development of agriculture has had crucial

engineering inputs at all times.

Agricultural mechanisation

The needs for increased agriculturalproduction and productivity have beenreiterated many times by our leaders. The

mechanisation of our agriculture in order to

achieve greater yields is the stated objectiveof most politicians and indigenous as well

as foreign experts involved in agricultureand rural development activities. There are

many development NGOs which areengaged in various intermediatetechnology level development ofimplements and machinery which they

regard as the appropriate tools inmechanising our agriculture. On the otherhand, we have suppliers of tractors,combine harvesters and other 'hi-tech'

machinery who view their machinery asbeing essential to the successfulmechanisation of agriculture.

The two opposing positions havesupporters who have been engaged in anoften bitter confrontation. There are otherintermediate positions. Prof G.C. Mrema

has summarized four positions taken byresearchers/development planners onagricultural mechanization.

1. The first group are those who opposethe widespread adoption of advancedtechnologies (mostly internalcombustion engines and tractors) inagricultural mechanisation as entirely

inappropriate in most situations indeveloping countries. This groupargues that mechanically powered -agricultural mechanisation often leads

to displacement of labour and henceincreased unemployment, and thisresults in a host of other socio-economic problems, amongst them,

rural-urban migration, inequitabledistribution of wealth and in manycases an increase in absolute poverty,balance of payments due to the need to

import machinery, fuel and sometimestechnical assistance to manage them.

They further argue that adoption ofmechanical technologies does notnecessarily lead to increased yieldsand land productivity and equal oreven higher increments could be

achieved by use of biochemical inputsalone. This group often advocates theuse of improved hand tools and/ ordraught animal technologies coupled

with biochemical inputs (fertilizersetc.). Essentially, they see the handtools and animal poweredtechnologies as an alternative to

mechanical technologies in the

agriculture of developing countriesespecially the smallholder sector.

2. The second group comprises of thosewho view the use of the improvedhand tools and animal poweredtechnology as transitional step

between the most rudimentary step in

technological development(characterised by entire reliance on

human muscle power) and theadvanced technologies (characterised'by reliance on tractors and other

machinery).

This group argues that the course of

technological development isevolutionary and it is each country'sprerogative to aspire to a highertechnological plateau. It is argued,

modernity is a legitimate goal, butcare should be taken to ensure thattechnological, cultural, economic andsocial development all work in tandem

to ensure a well-balanced society. Thisgroup opposes any rapidmechanisation policies, in particularthose which aim at wide scale

adoption of mechanical technologiesamong small and medium scalefarmers. In many cases this group hasattempted, at times convincingly and

at other times unconvincingly, to showthat these improved hand tools anddraught animal power are just as

good and economical as themechanical technologies.

3. The third group comprises those whoregard these intermediate technologies(i.e. improved hand tools and draught

animal technology in agriculture) as a

delaying tactic and they advocate theuse of mechanical technologies as-themost appropriate. This group argues

that alternatives to the mechanicaltechnologies do not just exist as apractical matter, or, if they areavailable, they are inefficient and they

cannot be compared to the mechanicaltechnologies in terms of economicsand productivity.

They further argue that, where thesemechanical technologies have failed indeveloping countries, this has in mostcases been a consequence of poor

planning, management andsupervision. They view theagricultural production process as athermodynamic process (advocating a

minimum level of energy per hectare)and argue that food and cropproduction has to be achieved in themost efficient way, maximising the

productivity of land and labour, and it

is only by doing this that a surplus canbe realised which can then bemarketed at a lower price. They scornat those who oppose agricultural

mechanisation for fear of creatingunemployment and compare them tothe Luddites in England of 19th

Century, who smashed textile

machinery because they feared it,would create unemployment.

This group argues that as long asagriculture in developing countries is

perceived as a gigantic programmeof relieving unemployment, then thesecountries will continuously face

hunger and massive starvation. On thequestion of energy problems requiredfor running these tractors, it is arguedthat the. fossil fuels spent in running

them even in the most advancedcountries is less than 5 of the totalcommercial energy used, and in anycase the other biochemical inputs

which do not seem to be questioned inso far as energy is concerned, are evenmuch more energy intensive than thefuel required to run the machinery and

implements (Stout 1979; Fluck andBaird 1979; Gohlich, 1984).

4. The fourth group advocates acompromise between groups 2 and 3above. This group views the improvedhand tools and draught animaltechnology as more of an 18th centurytechnology and the modem tractor and

combine harvester as more of. a 21stcentury technology for most of thedeveloping countries. This groupargues that more appropriate form of

mechanical technologies can bedeveloped for the farming systems inthe third world.

Thus, over the past 30 or so years, thisgroup has been busy designing an

intermediate, appropriate, mini,micro tractor for use by farmers indeveloping countries. The idea herehas been to develop a technologywhich can be afforded by the small

scale farmer and which is also multi-purpose. Development of suchtechnologies has been particularlydone on the Asian subcontinent(Philippines, Thailand, etc.) as well as

some of the more advanced countriesin Europe and, in Africa, e.g.Tinkabi and Kabanyolo tractors.

Agricultural mechanization cannot beviewed in isolation. It is a strategicprogramme in the overall economicdevelopment plans of the country.


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Specifically, it must be discussed as a part

of the industrialization efforts of the nation.

In analyzing our agricultural mechanizationand industrialization objectives and

strategies, we must also take into accountthe historical situation in which we findourselves. Our technologically backward

economy was fashioned deliberately by the

British colonialists. Our economy suppliedBritain with raw materials and it in turn

supplied us with durable and semi durableconsumables like bicycles, ploughs, spades,etc.

The few engineering workshops we hadwere mainly engaged in repairs of imported

goods; simple engineering items likesprings, steel wires, iron chains andmachine tools were imported - mainly fromBritain. The above scenario has not

changed much, except for the emergence ofJua Kali sector which mainly recyclesscrapped imported machine parts into hand-made consumer semi-durables. The

JuaKali sector uses highly labourintensive methods, reminiscent of 18thcentury Europe. The basic question whichwe must address is simply: What is the best

option for agricultural mechanisation?

Objective

The objective of agriculture is to producefood and other raw materials using the mostefficient and cost-effective methods.Agricultural mechanization is therefore, astrategy for achieving this objective.

Employment

It is often argued that as agriculture

employs the vast majority of our labourforce, it is therefore our most significanteconomic sector. Implicit in this statementis that this state of the affairs has to be

maintained, at least for the foreseeablefuture. What is the validity of thisargument?

As stated above, the primary objective ofagriculture is to provide food and other rawmaterials. This process must obviously be

carried out in the' most efficient and cost-effective manner. Employment is created inthis sector because we require humanlabour intervention in the productionprocess. Mechanisation leads to more

labour and process efficiency, resulting inbetter energy utilization and lowerproduction costs. In an industrializingeconomy, labour requirements reduced in

various industries as production systemsare progressively mechanised. The workersdisplaced in such industries are absorbed inother industries where they are required. In

fact, the lowest unemployment rates are in

the most industrialized countries whichhave the highest levels of agriculturalmechanisation.

Mechanising our agriculture will displacesome labour from the sector. This isactually desirable in a modern

industrialising economy. In such an

economy, labour is required in many otherareas. Where would we get our teachers,

engineering manufacturing workers,musicians, journalists, researchers, textileworkers, petrochemical workers etc., if the

vast majority of our workers are engaged injust one sector, i.e., agriculture?Conversely, can we industrialise our

economy by engaging most of our workersin just one sector?

5. The way forwardThe basic approach to economicdevelopment that we should take should bethat of a nation based on modem industry.

That is, we should industrialise.

This includes industrializing ouragriculture. This is the only way that we

can expand the production of food andcapital equipment to satisfy the basic needsof our people. Industries using modemlarge scale methods have to be

supplemented by small industries whichmay be particularly suited for betterutilization of local resources, and forachievement of local self-sufficiency inrespect of certain types of essential

consumer goods like food, cloth andagricultural implements. For the small scaleindustries to survive and thrive, they haveto be supplied with a number of factors

including: Cheap raw materials; cheap,efficient and reliable power; technicaladvice; organized marketing of produce;and where necessary, safeguards against

intensive competition from imports.

The basic strategies for industrializationshould involve: Emphasis on heavy

industries; establishment and nurturing ofwell supported and funded researchinstitutes; setting up of the infrastructure

for power and transport; and selectivedisengagement of the economy from theworld economy.

Economic development is a process in

which the standard of living of the peopleis progressively raised through domesticwealth creation. Modern scientifically-ledeconomic development has led to

industrialization, in which the peoplethemselves have undergone tremendouschange.

Semi-subsistent peasants, the so called

small-scale farmers have been transformedinto industrial workers in developedcountries. This process has liberated manypeople from backwardness and superstition.

The process of development, i.e.,industrializing, will change the quality ofour people. As people are liberated from

their adverse economic conditions, and

transformed into industrial workers, theirattitudes change. In short, they will

undergo a cultural change. Practices suchas moranism will, inevitably, die.

The perverse position that, in modemtimes, that we must permanently run aneconomy in which a significant sector is

engaged in agricultural production usingrudimentary hand tools, animal poweredtechnologies and manual machines such asoil presses should be opposed.

Agriculture, really, like all productionprocesses, is a thermodynamic process.There must be a minimum energy input

into the system to achieve meaningfulproduction. Food and crop production hasto be achieved in the most efficient way,maximising the productivity of land and

labour, and it is only by doing this that asurplus can be realized which can bemarketed at a lower price. Further, if theeconomy does not produce enough surplus,

then there is nothing to re- invest in theacquisition of new and better technology.

Well-paid, highly educated experts frominternational Organizations and NGOs, and

local consultants on their payroll who havegraduated from using slide rules toelectronic calculators and finally toelectronic computers should not sermonize

to us about the merits of using hand toolsand animal power. These people enjoy thefruits of industrialised societies, whichhave only been made possible by modem

industry. They enjoy modern medical carewith all its scanners etc., they drive air-conditioned cars which glide over potholes.They enjoy cultural events (cocktail parties,

plays, etc.) made possible byindustrialization. They communicatethrough faxes and email. They use mobile

telephones and watch satellite television,and 'they have the most t modem householdappliances to make life easier. Why wouldthese people, then, be opposed to othersenjoying the fruits of industrialization?

Their unstated aim, surely, is to keep usbackward.

The above indicates to us that for us to

industrialize and mechanize our agriculture,we need to have meaningful investment inscience and technology research andconsultancy. This should include the


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nurturing of a patriotic community of

researchers and consultants in agriculture,engineering and other related areas of S &T. The funding of research should becarried out primarily by our government.

Our researchers must be paid meaningfulsalaries; they cannot be expected to do any

useful work if they are constantly hustling

to keep alive. Worse still, the low payentices them into the hands of foreign

agencies; they become consultants for theseagencies locally or they leave the countryaltogether to effect the same.

History has taught us that differentcountries have not followed exactly the

same path to industrialization. Englandstarted with steam power, followedrespectively by the internal combustionengine, electrification, nuclear power.

South East Asian nations achievedindustrialization by jumping to, micro-electronics, the most modem industries atthe time they were industrializing.

We must, therefore, prepare ourselves for abig jump forward. The successfulmechanization of our agriculture will also

depend on defining minimum land sizes fordifferent agro-ecological zones. Rampantsubdivision of land has led to minusculeland holdings in some areas with the best

agricultural soils such as Kakamega andKisii. The use of land for speculativepurposes also adds to production costs.Careful policies should be adopted todiscourage such speculation.

The crucial question in industrializationand agricultural mechanization is: Wheredo we get the capital from? We know for

sure that the World Bank, IMP, etc. will notprovide any meaningful funding for thesepurposes; this is simply because thecountries which established these

organizations have no interest in ourindustrialization.

We must look elsewhere. The first place is

our own selves. Almost every self-respecting cooperative society has (orintends to) invest in beautiful modem officecomplexes in Nairobi and other urban

areas. How many factories could we havebuilt with all the funds?

At a time when we are importing sugar,

would it not have been wiser for UkulimaCooperative Society to invest in a sugar

factory? And the businessmen importingsugar, could they not have invested in sugarfactories? We read, very regularly, in the

local press of huge sums of money stolenfrom the public kitty. How many agro-industries could we have built from, the

billions?

The other source of capital is from abroad.Firstly, our citizens who, we are told, have

huge sums of money in foreign bankaccounts, should be required to repatriatethese funds

Secondly, we can very carefully negotiatewith foreign companies and governmentsfor joint ventures. The foreign investmentin our economy should be mutually

beneficial to the parties concerned. Weshould not be in the business of invitingforeigners to our country to repatriateabroad all the wealth created.

Conclusion

Industrialization and agriculturalmechanization will only be possible

through enlightened political leadership.The government must reconcile apparentlyopposing sides in: production andconsumption; agriculture and industry;

heavy and light industry; and large scaleand small scale agriculture.

The government should involve our local

experts in clearly defining ourindustrialization and agricultural

mechanization objectives. Correctly

defined strategic programmes should beimplemented by competent professionalswho are deft at tactical management.

The people should be involved at everystage of the processes described above.Without the enthusiastic support of the

people, the programmes cannot succeed.

Just after the inception of the processes, thepeople should begin to see some tangible

fruits. This will motivate them to workharder.

The people should enjoy maximum humanand social rights for their enthusiasticinvolvement in economic development

activities. They should be free to debateissues, associate, elect leaders of theirchoice, etc. Equally important, they shouldhave affordable access to food, shelter,

housing, education, and medical care. Feepayment at points of use for education andmedical care, as prescribed by SAPs,should be done away with. The payers use

money they have earned from the economy,not from Mars. We can therefore, find waysof humanely collecting the money from theeconomy before a service is required.

Where necessary, the private sector shouldbe motivated and nurtured to provide auseful input in our agriculturalmechanization efforts. However, the

government bears the ultimateresponsibility for economic development.Our government should not abrogate itsresponsibility for economic management toforeign agencies and mystical economic

forces emanating from America and itsindustrialized allies.

For economic development, and to ensure

our very survival, we must industrialize oureconomy and mechanize our agricultureusing modern large scale methods. There isno other way.


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The CORD Presidential Candidate Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, his running mate Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka and Hon. Moses Wetangula

The Orange is a Newsletter of the Orange Democratic Movement

Readers are invited to submit their articles for publication at the address given below:

Prof. Larry Gumbe

Email:[email protected] SMS: 0713 764809

-

The Orange Democratic MovementOrange House

Menelik Road, Kilimani Area

P.O. Box 2478, 00202Nairobi.

Email:[email protected] out our website atwww.odm.co.ke

Opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the ODM.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.odm.co.ke/http://www.odm.co.ke/http://www.odm.co.ke/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

The Orange Newsletter Volume 2 Number 6 7 February 2013

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Transcript of The Orange Newsletter Volume 2 Number 6 7 February 2013