A MESSAGE TO OUR DONORS: RUBEN CENTRE AND ELECTION PREPAREDNESS

2022 marks Kenya’s seventh general election since the multiparty system was passed as law in the early 1990s. The election period in Kenya has always been tension filled, from inflation to poor business environment locally. This year though, Ruben Centre has gone out of his way to prepare the people of Mukuru for the forthcoming elections.

Through our Advocacy department, and in partnership with GIZ, Ruben Centre has held community engagement forums for the whole Mukuru informal settlement. The forums have been aimed at informing key persons in the communities on how to conduct elections. The key persons who have attended then go back to their communities as peace ambassadors to educate the general population. These activities have been going on since the begin of the year.

The advocacy department has also helped the people of Mukuru, with their help, to come up with a manifesto dubbed “The Mukuru Manifesto”. This is a one of its kind document that has the needs of the people of Mukuru that aims to let all aspirants know what the people of Mukuru need. Contrary to political aspirants coming to preach their promises to the masses, the people of Mukuru have decided that this year they will vote for leaders who will abide to their demands.

On top of this and most importantly, youth have been engaged to come up with art work that send information on peace. This initiative aims at curbing the scenes witnessed after the 2007 general elections. A brief study has shown that youth are mostly involved in the elections mayhem. Therefore with Ruben Centre involving the youth and instilling peace in them is the first step to ensure that we have peaceful elections.

Ruben FM continues to be a key advocacy tool in holding leaders accountable through the various talk show programs, outdoor activities and one-on-one dialogue sessions with various leaders in Mukuru Community. The radio has provided a platform to most candidates eying various elective positions in Nairobi County. Through partnerships with our advocacy department and other governance organizations, Ruben FM has offered civic education to community members aimed at helping them make informed decisions during elections.

Ruben FM has also continued to preach peaceful coexistence among Mukuru residents during this electioneering period. The team has recorded quite a number of peace PSAs aired regularly on the radio to remind our audience on the need of remaining peaceful throughout the election period.

Community members from Mukuru will heavily rely on Ruben FM for election results announcement and reporting throughout the election week. Ruben FM journalists have undergone enough election reporting trainings to deliver the above-mentioned services to Mukuru residents. As the rest of the staff will proceed to their holiday during election period, Ruben FM journalists will continue with their services and provide relevant and fact-checked election information to Mukuru residents. We are dedicated to ensuring that Mukuru people conduct a peaceful election.

A report from the Advocacy department

After we realized that it's election time we knew that campaigns will come and politicians would utilize the opportunity to sell their promises that are never feasible.

We teamed up with like-minded community leaders from Mukuru in February this year and came up with this Mukuru Manifesto which is enshrined with 9 Pillar Agenda. These include:

1. Special Planning Area (SPA).

2. Education

3. Sanitation

4. Water

5. Electricity

6. Health

7. Land

8. Youth Unemployment

9. Governance.

Ruben Centre remains non-biased and therefore we have created a noble and equal platform for the candidates and the electorate.

We started with MCAs from the six County Assembly Wards that is; Kwa Reuben, Imara Daima, Viwandani, Kwa Njenga, Kware and Pipeline.

We invited 9 Member of National Assembly MNA of Embakasi South, the Kenya Kwanza and the Azimio One Kenya Alliance Gubernatorial/Senatorial Candidates.

We are fully convinced that it will not be business as usual as the candidates sign the manifesto. It is a covenant and it's a unique document in Kenya's political history and many people have applauded the astounding initiative and pray it be escalated to other counties.

* Special thanks to those who made it possible: Ruben Centre, Ruben FM, Akiba Mashinani Trust and all the community leaders involved.

#mukurupeoplesmanifesto  #NewDawn

Written by: Eric Ambuche -Resident Mukuru